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

At just over $66,000 in first-year earnings, Hinds Community College's nursing program delivers solid starting salaries that provide a comfortable 3:1 earnings-to-debt cushion. However, the program sits in the middle of Mississippi's pack—ranking 40th percentile statewide—while competitors like Mississippi Delta and Southwest Mississippi push graduates past $70,000. More concerning, earnings actually slip slightly by year four, suggesting graduates may hit a ceiling earlier than peers at stronger programs.

The debt load of $20,063 looks reasonable on its face, but it's notably higher than the state median of $16,744 for nursing programs. Given that 38% of Hinds students receive Pell grants, that extra $3,300 in borrowing matters. When you're earning $8,000 less annually than Mississippi Delta graduates and carrying more debt, the return on investment gap widens quickly over a nursing career.

For parents weighing community college nursing options in Mississippi, Hinds provides a viable pathway into the profession but not the strongest value in the state. If proximity to Raymond is essential, the program will get your child credentialed and earning a livable wage. But if geography allows flexibility, programs like Mississippi Delta or Southwest Mississippi offer meaningfully better earnings trajectories for similar or lower debt—a difference that compounds to tens of thousands of dollars over a career.