Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Mercy College of Ohio

Mercy College of Ohio's nursing program starts strong but follows an unusual earnings trajectory that warrants close attention. Graduates earn $69,485 in their first year—solidly above Ohio's median of $64,169 and ranking in the 60th percentile statewide. That's competitive positioning for an associate-level nursing program. However, by year four, earnings drop to $61,758, an 11% decline that moves graduates below the state median. This pattern is atypical for nursing, where experience typically commands higher pay.

The debt picture offers some balance. At $34,097, graduates carry more than Ohio's median ($26,952) but substantially less than the national median ($20,751 might seem lower, but remember nursing debt varies widely by state). The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49 means graduates owe roughly half their first-year salary—manageable in absolute terms, though the earnings decline means that ratio worsens over time. The robust sample size of 100+ graduates makes these patterns reliable, not statistical noise.

For an anxious parent, here's the calculation: your child will likely land a decent first job but may face headwinds in salary progression that other Ohio nursing programs don't show. Compare this to Sinclair Community College nearby, where earnings hold steadier, or investigate why Mercy's graduates see declining pay—it could signal workforce transitions, part-time shifts, or regional market factors that matter for long-term planning.