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

Morgan Community College's nursing program shows strong initial outcomes—$76,759 in first-year earnings beats both the national median ($68,409) and Colorado's state median ($71,592). At the 60th percentile among Colorado programs, it's competitive with well-regarded community college nursing programs across the state, though Front Range and a few others edge slightly higher. The debt load of $17,238 is modest, translating to just 22 cents owed for every dollar earned in that first year.

The concern is what happens next. Earnings drop to $62,032 by year four—a 19% decline that's unusual for nursing, where pay typically rises with experience. This could reflect graduates moving to lower-cost-of-living areas, switching to part-time work, or pursuing further education. With fewer than 30 graduates in this data, individual circumstances can heavily skew the numbers.

For a parent, the initial return looks solid: your child would likely start earning well above the national average for associate degree nurses, with manageable debt. The earnings decline warrants a conversation with the college about typical graduate pathways. If most students are working full-time in the region and staying in clinical roles, that drop is worth understanding better. If they're moving on to bachelor's programs or relocating, it's less alarming. The fundamentals—low debt and strong starting pay—suggest this could work, but verify those four-year numbers match what current students experience.