Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Lorain County Community College

Lorain County Community College's nursing program hits median Ohio earnings but charges below-average debt—and that's significant in a state where many comparable programs saddle graduates with $27,000 or more. At $24,000 in debt and $64,242 in first-year earnings, graduates face manageable monthly payments that translate to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37, comfortably within the safe zone for healthcare careers.

The earnings trajectory deserves scrutiny, though. That 5% dip from year one to year four runs counter to most nursing careers, where experience typically drives raises. This could reflect graduates shifting to part-time work, moving into lower-paying specialties, or simply the volatility of small cohorts over time. What matters more is the starting point: while this program ranks 60th percentile in Ohio (better than half the state's nursing programs), it trails the top community college options like Sinclair by about $5,000 annually.

For an Ohio family, this represents a solid middle-of-the-pack choice. You're getting comparable earnings to the state median while paying $3,000 less in debt than typical Ohio nursing programs. The first-year salary covers the debt burden easily, making this financially viable even if it won't match the earning power of the state's strongest programs. If your child has been accepted to Sinclair, Mercy, or Hondros, the earnings advantage there justifies comparison shopping. But among Ohio's 54 nursing programs, Lorain County delivers reliable access to the profession at a fair price.