Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Highline College

Highline College's nursing program punches well above its weight nationally—ranking in the 95th percentile—but falls squarely in the middle of Washington's competitive nursing landscape. With first-year earnings of $84,619, graduates start strong and owe just $13,000, roughly a third of the national median debt for associate nursing programs. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.15, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under two months of gross income.

The bigger question is what happens after year one. Earnings drop to $73,197 by year four, a 13% decline that likely reflects many graduates pursuing flexibility over maximizing income—working fewer shifts, changing specialties, or balancing family commitments. This isn't necessarily a red flag; nursing offers unusual schedule control, and many choose to use it. The 60th percentile ranking among Washington programs confirms this is solid but not elite for the state, where several community colleges post similar numbers.

At this debt level, the financial risk is minimal even with the earnings dip. You're looking at an affordable entry point to a stable profession with multiple career paths. Just understand that while this program compares favorably to most of the country, it's competing with several other strong community college options across Washington that deliver comparable outcomes.