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

North Hennepin Community College nursing graduates earn slightly less than the national median initially ($67,312 vs. $68,409), but they perform better than 60% of Minnesota's nursing programs—meaningful context since most students stay in-state. The debt picture is particularly strong: at $27,779, it tracks closely with Minnesota's median but sits in just the 22nd percentile nationally, meaning 78% of similar programs nationwide leave graduates with more debt. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41, graduates typically owe about five months of their first year's salary, a manageable burden for the profession.

The earnings trajectory shows steady growth to $71,269 by year four, though North Hennepin doesn't match the top Minnesota programs like Minnesota West ($74,877) or Minnesota State Southeast ($74,091). That gap—roughly $3,600 to $7,600 in starting salary—might reflect differences in clinical placement networks or urban vs. rural hospital pay scales. However, RN salaries depend heavily on shift differentials, specialty areas, and individual employer rather than school pedigree alone, which can narrow these differences quickly.

For Minnesota families, this represents solid value: below-average debt for above-median state earnings. The program gets students into nursing careers without excessive borrowing, and RN credentials open doors to advancement regardless of where you earned your associate degree.