Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Heartland Community College

With fewer than 30 graduates in the sample, these numbers may not tell the full story, but Heartland's nursing program shows an unusual pattern that warrants scrutiny. New graduates earn $66,171—essentially matching the Illinois median—but by year four, earnings drop to $55,907. That's a 15% decline when most nursing careers show steady growth. The modest debt load of $16,625 provides some cushion, but this still trails the state's typical $14,500 and sits in the 72nd percentile nationally (higher debt than most programs).

The bigger concern is how Heartland compares to other Illinois community colleges. Top programs like Moraine Valley and College of Lake County see graduates earning $72,000-$73,000, roughly $6,000-$7,000 more than Heartland's first-year figure. Even at the state median, Illinois nursing graduates typically outperform Heartland's numbers. This places the program at the 40th percentile statewide—meaning 60% of Illinois nursing programs produce better outcomes.

The small sample size means this could be statistical noise rather than a genuine weakness, but the earnings trajectory is hard to ignore. If you're considering Heartland, verify graduation rates and job placement with local healthcare systems. Given Illinois offers nearly 50 nursing programs with stronger track records and similar community college affordability, exploring alternatives like Moraine Valley or Joliet Junior College makes sense unless location or specific circumstances make Heartland the clear practical choice.