Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Mount Wachusett Community College

Mount Wachusett Community College's nursing program gets graduates earning quickly—$74,618 in the first year puts them above three-quarters of nursing programs nationally. That's strong. But there's a wrinkle: by year four, earnings slip to $70,128, a decline you don't typically see in nursing. This matters because Massachusetts has a competitive nursing market, and while this program performs solidly (60th percentile statewide), it trails nearby community colleges like Greenfield and Springfield Technical by about $5,000 annually.

The debt picture is manageable at $22,175—slightly above the state median but well within reasonable bounds given those first-year earnings. That 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can realistically pay this off while building their careers. The earnings dip likely reflects the employment patterns of associate-degree nurses in Massachusetts, where competition with BSN holders can affect advancement and shift opportunities over time.

For families looking at affordable nursing education, this program delivers immediate results and reasonable debt. Just understand that those impressive first-year numbers may not grow as much as you'd expect, particularly compared to top community college programs in the state. If your child plans to bridge to a BSN later, this is a solid foundation; if they're planning to stay at the associate level long-term, the slightly better-performing programs nearby might offer more sustained earning power.