Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Moraine Valley Community College

Moraine Valley graduates hit the ground running with $73,137 in first-year earnings—above the national median and ranking in the 60th percentile among Illinois nursing programs. However, earnings slip to $68,578 by year four, a 6% decline that's unusual for nursing and worth understanding. This could reflect graduates shifting to less intense schedules as they gain experience, or it might signal that initial placement advantages don't compound over time as they do at some competing programs.

At $19,345 in debt, graduates face a manageable 0.26 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning they'd need roughly three months of income to pay off loans—a comfortable position. The debt level sits slightly above the Illinois median of $14,500 but remains reasonable given the strong starting salary. For context, nearby Joliet Junior College and College of Lake County both deliver similar first-year outcomes with potentially lower debt burdens.

The key question is whether that earnings dip matters for your family. If your child values strong immediate earning power and can manage debt efficiently, this program delivers. But if you're banking on steady income growth through their twenties, you might want to understand why earnings plateau here when they typically rise in nursing careers.