Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at North Country Community College

North Country Community College graduates enter nursing with manageable debt—just $27,721, well below both national and state averages—but their starting salaries lag behind what most New York nursing programs deliver. At $69,472, first-year earnings fall $4,000 short of the state median and land this program in the 40th percentile among New York nursing schools, meaning six out of ten comparable programs produce higher-earning graduates.

The debt picture offers some consolation. That 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe roughly five months of salary, putting them in a reasonably strong position to manage repayment. The lower debt burden partially offsets the earnings gap, especially compared to urban programs that might charge significantly more while their grads earn substantially more—think $97,000+ at CUNY Hostos or Cochran School of Nursing versus North Country's $69,000.

For families considering this program, the central question is location. If your child plans to work in the Adirondack region where North Country is situated, these earnings might reflect local market rates and prove perfectly adequate. But if they're heading to New York City or its suburbs after graduation, they'll be entering the workforce with credentials that trail state peers by a meaningful margin—and that gap could persist throughout their career. The low debt helps, but it doesn't fully compensate for starting $4,000 behind annually in a state with high living costs.