Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Niagara County Community College

Niagara County Community College's nursing program shows a puzzling earnings trajectory that warrants careful consideration. Graduates start strong at $72,260—beating the national median and carrying manageable debt of $20,250. But four years out, median earnings drop to $66,250, an 8% decline that's unusual in a field where experience typically commands higher pay. This lands them well below the $73,415 state median, placing them in just the 40th percentile among New York nursing programs—meaning 60% of comparable programs deliver better outcomes.

The comparison to top New York programs is stark. Schools like Cochran and CUNY Hostos produce graduates earning $90,000-$100,000+, suggesting regional opportunities exist that this program isn't fully capturing. The $6,000 earnings drop between years one and four could indicate graduates starting in higher-paid acute care settings but moving to lower-paying roles, or facing challenges advancing in their careers. While the debt load remains reasonable with a 0.28 ratio to first-year earnings, the declining trajectory means graduates are earning less while still paying off loans.

For New York families, this program offers a low-cost entry point to nursing, but the state has demonstrably stronger options. If your child is targeting long-term career growth in nursing, programs with more stable or rising earnings trajectories would likely justify slightly higher upfront costs. The initial $72,260 isn't the full story when peers elsewhere are earning significantly more by year four.