Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Marion Technical College

Marion Technical College's nursing program graduates take home $67,265 in their first year—ranking above 60% of Ohio nursing programs—but then see their earnings slide to $64,168 by year four. While the initial salary beats Ohio's median by about $3,000, that 5% decline is worth understanding: it may reflect the regional healthcare job market in Marion rather than program quality, or it could suggest graduates struggle to advance beyond entry-level positions.

The financing picture is the real strength here. At $15,990 in median debt, graduates owe less than half what typical Ohio nursing students carry ($26,952) and significantly below the national figure. That translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.24—meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in three months of gross income. For a profession with clear employment pathways, that's manageable debt even as earnings flatten.

The practical reality: your child would enter the workforce earning competitive wages with minimal financial burden, though they shouldn't expect significant salary growth in those first years. If staying in the Marion area and entering nursing with low debt matters more than maximizing long-term earnings potential, this program delivers on affordability. But if career advancement is the priority, look at how graduates from higher-earning Ohio programs (like Herzing-Akron at $73,342) fare over time.