Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Lackawanna College

Pennsylvania nursing programs show dramatic variation in outcomes, and while Lackawanna College's precise figures remain unreported, peer programs in the state suggest first-year earnings around $67,200—right at the state median but notably below what multiple nearby community colleges actually report. Montgomery County Community College and Lehigh Carbon Community College graduates, for instance, earn over $78,000 in their first year, more than $11,000 above what comparable programs typically produce. That gap matters when you're carrying debt.

Speaking of debt: an estimated $31,700 represents the higher end for nursing associate programs, well above both the state median of $26,000 and the national median of $20,750. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 isn't catastrophic—nursing graduates generally have stable employment—but it's less favorable than what you'd find at programs with similar outcomes but lower borrowing. With 58% of students receiving Pell grants, affordability concerns affect many families here.

The fundamental issue is uncertainty combined with cost. If this program performs like its Pennsylvania peers suggest, graduates should find work and manage their loans. But when actual data from other programs in the state shows significantly stronger earnings potential, parents should ask why they're considering a program without transparent outcomes at a higher debt load than many alternatives offer.