Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Nashville State Community College

With 22 nursing programs in Tennessee to choose from, Nashville State sits squarely in the middle pack—40th percentile statewide—while graduates earn about $63,200 in their first year. That's roughly $5,000 below the Tennessee median and $7,000 below nearby programs like Southwest Tennessee Community College. More concerning is the slight earnings dip by year four, suggesting limited wage growth in those crucial early career years when nurses typically see raises as they gain experience and certifications.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $25,500, it's higher than Tennessee's median of $16,400 but still manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40. Graduates should be able to handle payments on a typical nursing salary, though they'll be paying off more than peers at comparable programs. The program serves a significant population of Pell recipients, which matters for families weighing affordability.

If your child is set on Nashville State for location or transfer reasons, this program won't derail their nursing career—the fundamentals are there. But if flexibility exists, several nearby Tennessee community colleges deliver stronger first-year earnings and considerably less debt. In a field where starting salary largely determines your financial trajectory, those differences compound quickly.