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

Johnson County Community College's nursing graduates face an unusual challenge: their earnings actually decline after the first year, dropping from $64,303 to $60,996 by year four. This downward trend is atypical for nursing programs and suggests graduates may be working in lower-paying settings or facing employment disruptions. While the program performs respectably within Kansas—landing at the 60th percentile statewide—it trails the national median by about $4,000 and falls short of several nearby community colleges like Pratt ($70,680) and Rasmussen ($68,119).

The debt load of $15,914 is manageable, representing just 25% of first-year earnings, and comes in below both state and national medians. This keeps the program financially viable even with the earnings concerns. However, parents should recognize that this program ranks in just the 25th percentile nationally, meaning three-quarters of similar nursing programs produce higher-earning graduates.

The value here depends on employment flexibility. If your child plans to work in Kansas healthcare markets where these earnings are competitive, the low debt makes this a reasonable choice. But if they're aiming for higher-paying nursing positions or specializations, the program's trajectory suggests they might need additional credentials or should consider stronger alternatives like Pratt or Labette Community College, both of which deliver significantly higher earnings without requiring substantially more debt.