Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Kent State University at Geauga

Kent State Geauga's nursing program sits right at the state median for earnings—$64,169 matches the typical Ohio associate nursing graduate—but carries higher-than-average debt of $31,000. That's $4,000 more than the Ohio median and $10,000 above the national benchmark. More concerning is the earnings trajectory: graduates see their income drop 8% by year four, falling to $59,213. While that dip could reflect nurses moving from acute care to less demanding roles, it's unusual enough to warrant investigation into whether graduates struggle with career advancement or workplace retention.

The debt load here matters more than it might seem at first glance. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48, graduates face payments that are manageable but not trivial—especially as their earnings decline rather than grow. Several nearby Ohio programs produce higher-earning graduates: Herzing-Akron ($73,342), Hondros ($70,840), and even Sinclair Community College ($69,403) all show better outcomes. The one clear advantage? That $31,000 debt figure, while high for an associate degree, still beats the borrowing levels at many private competitors.

For families prioritizing in-state tuition and regional connections, this program delivers credentials that lead to nursing employment. But if your child can access one of the higher-performing programs listed above—particularly a community college with similar costs but better earnings—that's probably the smarter move.