Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Kankakee Community College

Kankakee Community College's nursing program lands in the middle of the pack among Illinois nursing schools, with graduates earning about the same as the state median ($66,261 versus $66,360) but carrying significantly more debt. While several community colleges in the state—like Moraine Valley and College of Lake County—produce graduates earning $6,000-7,000 more annually, Kankakee's debt load of $23,550 is substantially higher than Illinois' typical $14,500 for associate nursing programs. That debt difference matters: you're paying 60% more to borrow for roughly average outcomes.

The positive story here is that the debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable at 0.36, meaning graduates can reasonably expect to handle their loan payments on a nurse's salary. Earnings also show modest growth from year one to year four, and the program serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible students. However, when nearby community colleges are producing better-earning graduates with less debt, it raises questions about value.

For families shopping Illinois nursing programs, this isn't a bad option—nursing credentials translate to solid employment regardless of where you train—but it's not an optimal one. If your child can access programs like Moraine Valley or College of Lake County with similar admissions standards, those deliver meaningfully better financial outcomes without the premium debt load.