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

Lake Superior College's nursing associate degree shows an unusual pattern: graduates start with $64,846 in first-year earnings but see their income drop to $58,909 by year four. This backward trajectory is concerning, especially when similar Minnesota programs at Minnesota West and Minnesota State College Southeast maintain earnings in the mid-$70,000s. Even within the state, this program falls below the $66,484 median, landing at the 40th percentile among Minnesota nursing programs.

The $27,655 debt load isn't excessive—it matches the state median and sits well below the national average—but the declining earnings curve makes it harder to manage than it appears. With a 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio based on first-year income, the burden grows heavier as salaries move in the wrong direction. It's worth investigating whether this decline reflects Duluth's regional job market, the types of nursing positions graduates typically enter, or something specific to the program's career outcomes.

For families considering this program, the math works initially but worsens with time. If staying in the Duluth area is essential, this may be your best local option. Otherwise, programs at Minnesota West or Rochester offer similar costs with stronger, more stable earning trajectories that justify the same investment.