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

Midlands Technical College nursing graduates start strong with first-year earnings of $70,571—above both the national and South Carolina medians—but face an unusual pattern where earnings slip to $65,593 by year four. This backwards trajectory isn't typical for nursing and places the program in the middle of the pack among South Carolina's 17 nursing programs, notably trailing schools like Tri-County Technical ($73,667) and Greenville Technical ($72,879) that maintain higher and more stable earnings.

The debt picture offers some reassurance: at $24,649, it matches the state median and sits well below national norms, creating a manageable 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio at graduation. For a program serving a substantial population of Pell grant recipients (39%), this accessibility matters. The robust sample size confirms these patterns are real, not statistical noise.

The earnings decline deserves attention. It could reflect graduates moving from high-paying hospital shifts to other nursing roles, local market factors, or employment patterns specific to this region. While the program delivers solid immediate outcomes and reasonable debt, parents should recognize their graduate may not see the earnings growth typical in nursing careers. If your child plans to stay in the Columbia area, this program works—just don't bank on significant raises in those first few years.