Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Jones County Junior College

Jones County Junior College's nursing program manages to keep debt exceptionally low at $9,500—less than half the state median and among the lowest 5% nationally—which initially sounds like a win. But there's a troubling wrinkle: while graduates start near the state median at $67,107, their earnings drop 22% by year four to just $52,165. That's an unusual trajectory for nursing, where earnings typically grow steadily with experience.

At 60th percentile in Mississippi, this program sits squarely in the middle of the state's nursing options, well behind leaders like Mississippi Delta ($74,925) and Southwest Mississippi ($70,513). The minimal debt means graduates won't face crushing payments, but the earnings decline raises questions about whether they're finding sustainable nursing positions or facing underemployment. It's worth investigating whether local healthcare systems provide adequate opportunities for career advancement, or if graduates are struggling to find full-time work after that first year.

The math works in the short term—you're looking at minimal debt burden and immediate employability. But if your child plans to stay in Mississippi and build a nursing career, programs at Mississippi Delta or Northwest Mississippi deliver stronger four-year earnings with manageable debt. Jones County makes financial sense only if the low debt is your top priority and you're comfortable with the possibility of stagnant or declining wages in those crucial early career years.