Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Lake Land College

Lake Land College's nursing program stands out for one remarkable feature: graduates leave with just $8,950 in debt, among the lowest in the nation for nursing programs. That's 60% less than the Illinois median and a fraction of the $20,751 national average. For families prioritizing minimal debt, this is exceptional.

The earnings picture is more complicated. First-year graduates earn $63,651—below both the state median ($66,360) and national average ($68,409), placing this program at the 40th percentile within Illinois. More concerning is the slight earnings decline to $60,592 by year four, though this pattern isn't unusual in nursing where shift differentials, overtime, and initial specialty placements can create variability. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.14 remains excellent, meaning graduates can theoretically pay off their loans in less than two months of gross earnings.

The fundamental question is whether saving $5,000-12,000 in debt compared to higher-earning Illinois programs like Moraine Valley or Joliet justifies the $10,000-12,000 lower annual salary. Over a four-year period, that earnings gap could exceed $40,000—far more than the debt savings. However, for students with limited financial resources or those planning to pursue their BSN immediately (where the associate degree is just a stepping stone), Lake Land's low-debt model offers genuine value. This works best for students who can't access or don't need Illinois's top-earning programs.