Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Marshalltown Community College

Marshalltown Community College's nursing program sits right in the middle of Iowa's associate nursing landscape—ranking at the 60th percentile statewide—but trails the national median by about $6,500. With first-year earnings of $61,954 and manageable debt of $17,935, graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.29, meaning they're borrowing less than three months of their starting salary. That's actually below both state and national debt averages, which matters for new nurses managing loan payments. However, the small graduating class (under 30 students) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year, and the slight earnings dip to $59,332 by year four suggests Iowa's nursing market may offer limited growth opportunities compared to larger metro areas.

The comparison to nearby programs is instructive: Iowa Western ($65,268) and Kirkwood ($64,461) graduates start with roughly $3,000-4,000 more annually, which compounds over a nursing career. For a student choosing between Iowa community colleges, those earnings differences deserve attention, though Marshalltown's lower debt somewhat offsets the gap. The 21% Pell grant rate suggests this program serves a less economically advantaged population, making that debt advantage more meaningful for families watching every dollar. If your child has offers from multiple Iowa nursing programs, compare the total cost of attendance—Marshalltown delivers solid RN credentials at below-average debt, even if starting salaries don't quite match the state's top performers.