Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Illinois Central College

Illinois Central College's nursing program produces graduates who earn less than both the state and national medians, ranking in the 40th percentile among Illinois nursing programs. While first-year earnings of $65,741 aren't terrible—they're roughly $700 below the state median—they fall short of what comparable Illinois community colleges deliver. Moraine Valley and College of Lake County graduates, for instance, earn $7,000-$10,000 more annually.

The bigger concern is the earnings trajectory: graduates see incomes drop 10% by year four, from $65,741 to $58,820. This decline is unusual in nursing, where experience typically commands higher wages. It may reflect graduates shifting to lower-paying practice settings or working reduced hours, but it's worth investigating why this pattern differs from peer programs where earnings remain stable or grow.

The debt load of $16,781 is manageable at roughly three months of first-year salary, and it's lower than both state and national medians. For families prioritizing affordability and staying close to home, ICC offers a workable path into nursing. However, if your child has options at higher-performing Illinois community colleges—particularly those in the Chicago suburbs—it's worth comparing whether slightly different locations could translate into meaningfully higher earning potential throughout their career.