Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at NHTI-Concord's Community College

NHTI graduates enter the nursing workforce with strong initial salaries—$74,512 puts them above three-quarters of similar nursing programs nationwide and solidly mid-pack among New Hampshire's nine associate nursing programs. The modest debt load of $25,006 (actually below the state median of $27,350) means graduates owe just over four months of their first year's salary, a manageable starting point. However, the trajectory tells a more complicated story: earnings drop to $63,574 by year four, a 15% decline that's unusual in nursing, where experience typically commands higher pay.

This earnings dip deserves scrutiny. It could reflect graduates shifting to lower-paying specialties they find more fulfilling, reducing hours for work-life balance, or moving to part-time roles—all common in nursing and not necessarily problems if they align with career goals. But it warrants a conversation with current students and the career services office about typical career paths. The gap between NHTI and New Hampshire's top performers (River Valley at $75,282, Great Bay at $73,908) is minimal initially, suggesting program quality is competitive.

For families prioritizing immediate employability with reasonable debt, NHTI delivers. The first-year numbers justify the investment. Just understand that the four-year data suggests graduates may be making career choices that prioritize factors beyond maximum earnings, which matters if loan repayment on a declining salary curve becomes tight.