Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Hudson County Community College

Hudson County Community College graduates are earning $92,941 just one year after completing their nursing associate's degree—that's $17,000 above New Jersey's median for these programs and an impressive $24,000 above the national median. These are remarkable first-year outcomes for a community college program, though there's an important caveat: the sample size is small, which means these figures could shift as more graduates are tracked.

The debt load at $21,000 is right at the state median and typical for nursing programs nationally, creating a strong 0.23 debt-to-earnings ratio. However, earnings drop to $87,803 by year four, which is unusual in a field where nurses typically see steady salary growth as they gain experience. This decline might reflect the small sample's career paths rather than a systemic issue, but it's worth noting. Despite this dip, graduates are still earning well above state and national benchmarks even four years out.

With over half of students receiving Pell grants, this program serves a population that particularly benefits from nursing's strong earning potential. The numbers suggest excellent value, though the small sample size means parents should verify these outcomes continue as the college tracks more graduates. For students who can handle the rigorous nursing curriculum, this appears to be a solid pathway to immediate financial stability.