Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City
Associate's Degree
Analysis
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City's nursing program lands squarely in the middle of Missouri's offerings—literally at the state median for both earnings and debt—but that positioning tells an important story. While graduates earn about $5,000 less than the national average for associate nursing programs, they're performing right alongside the typical Missouri nursing graduate. The $21,188 debt load is manageable with a 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in about four months of gross income.
The challenge here is competitive positioning within the Kansas City metro area. Several Missouri community colleges—St. Charles, St. Louis Community College, Jefferson College—consistently place their graduates $4,000 to $5,000 higher on the earnings ladder within the first year. That gap persists over time, with modest 4% earnings growth suggesting Metropolitan grads aren't catching up to their peers at other institutions. For a family weighing options within driving distance, those differences matter: over a career, even a $4,000 annual gap compounds significantly.
If Metropolitan Community College offers substantially lower tuition or better location convenience for your family, the math still works—nursing jobs are plentiful and the debt is reasonable. But if you're paying similar costs anyway, the top-performing programs in Missouri deliver noticeably better returns. This is a safe choice that gets you to a nursing career without financial distress, just not an optimized one.
Where Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing associates's programs nationally
Programs in the upper-left quadrant (high earnings, low debt) offer the best value. Programs in the lower-right quadrant warrant careful consideration.
Earnings Distribution
How Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City graduates compare to all programs nationally
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City graduates earn $64k, placing them in the 22th percentile of all registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing associates programs nationally.
Earnings Over Time
How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation
Earnings trajectories vary significantly. Some programs show strong early returns that plateau; others start lower but accelerate. Consider where you want to be at year 4, not just year 1.
Compare to Similar Programs in Missouri
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing associates's programs at peer institutions in Missouri (24 total in state)
| School | Earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City | $63,534 | $66,315 | $21,188 | 0.33 |
| St Charles Community College | $68,488 | $61,534 | $18,712 | 0.27 |
| Saint Louis Community College | $68,262 | $65,424 | $16,667 | 0.24 |
| Jefferson College | $67,439 | $61,831 | $22,554 | 0.33 |
| Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences | $67,421 | $56,431 | $23,500 | 0.35 |
| Moberly Area Community College | $67,023 | $57,091 | $17,587 | 0.26 |
| National Median | $68,409 | — | $20,751 | 0.30 |
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Programs in Missouri
Compare tuition, earnings, and debt across Missouri schools
| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr) | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Charles Community College Cottleville | $3,000 | $68,488 | $18,712 |
| Saint Louis Community College Bridgeton | $3,660 | $68,262 | $16,667 |
| Jefferson College Hillsboro | $4,500 | $67,439 | $22,554 |
| Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences Cape Girardeau | $11,691 | $67,421 | $23,500 |
| Moberly Area Community College Moberly | $4,020 | $67,023 | $17,587 |
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City, approximately 30% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.
Sample Size: Based on 150 graduates with reported earnings and 182 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.