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

Normandale's nursing program lands squarely in the middle of Minnesota's community college offerings—not at the top, but a reasonable launching point for a nursing career. With first-year earnings of $65,052, graduates earn about $1,400 less than the state median for similar programs and trail behind several other Minnesota community colleges by as much as $10,000 annually. The gap widens over time: even four years out, when earnings reach $71,319, Normandale nurses still lag behind peers from schools like Minnesota West and Minnesota State Southeast.

The financials tell a straightforward story. At $25,125 in debt, graduates face slightly less borrowing than the Minnesota average ($27,655), and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 means most will find the debt manageable on a nurse's salary. That's less than half a year's income, which should allow for comfortable repayment. The 10% earnings growth over four years suggests steady career progression, though nothing exceptional.

For families choosing among Minnesota's nursing programs, Normandale represents a safe, middle-tier option. If your child has been admitted to Rochester Community and Technical College or one of the higher-earning programs, those would deliver better long-term value. But Normandale won't leave graduates struggling—they'll earn decent nursing wages and carry reasonable debt. It's not the best deal in Minnesota, but it's far from the worst.