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

Hocking College's nursing program earns graduates $62,175 in their first year—below both the Ohio median ($64,169) and national average ($68,409) for associate nursing degrees. More troubling, earnings dip to $59,576 by year four, suggesting limited career advancement opportunities compared to peers whose incomes typically rise. Within Ohio's 54 nursing programs, Hocking ranks at the 40th percentile, trailing community colleges like Sinclair by over $7,000 annually.

The debt load of $25,396 is reasonable—actually slightly below Ohio's median—but when paired with below-average earnings, the trade-off becomes less attractive. Your child would start earning about $6,000 less per year than the typical Ohio nursing graduate, a gap that compounds over time. For families considering in-state options, programs like Sinclair Community College or Mercy College of Ohio deliver notably stronger earning outcomes with similar debt profiles.

The fundamentals matter here: nursing jobs are plentiful, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 isn't alarming. However, with 54 nursing programs in Ohio alone, this investment looks weak relative to alternatives just a short drive away that would position your child for $10,000+ higher annual earnings right out of the gate.