Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at John C Calhoun State Community College

The unusual trajectory here demands attention: graduates start near $57,000 but see earnings drop to $51,000 by year four—a 10% decline when most nursing careers are climbing. This isn't just modest growth underperformance; something shifts for these graduates mid-career. While the program ranks in the 40th percentile among Alabama nursing programs—putting it slightly below the state's $64,000 median—the real concern isn't the starting point but where graduates end up.

The debt picture provides some relief: at $18,000, it's lower than both state and national medians, creating a manageable 0.32 debt-to-earnings ratio even with that first-year salary. That's cold comfort, however, if earnings continue their downward trend. The data suggests graduates may be moving into lower-paying nursing roles over time, working fewer hours, or leaving clinical positions altogether—patterns worth investigating before enrollment.

For families weighing options, consider that five other Alabama community colleges produce graduates earning $11,000-$16,000 more annually by year four. If this program offers specific advantages—location, scheduling flexibility, or particular clinical partnerships—the lower debt might justify the tradeoff. But purely as a financial investment, stronger alternatives exist within Alabama's community college system, and the earnings decline makes this a riskier bet than typical nursing programs.