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

Northeast Community College graduates enter nursing with solid starting pay of $62,930—roughly matching the Nebraska median—but here's the catch: their earnings actually drop to $60,386 by year four. While other Nebraska nursing programs see graduates climb the salary ladder, Northeast grads are treading water or sliding backward. Southeast Community College graduates earn $71,000+ at the same career stage, and even nearby Central Community College hits $65,000.

The $19,000 debt load looks reasonable at first glance, but the declining earnings trajectory changes that calculation. What starts as a manageable 30% debt-to-earnings ratio becomes shakier when your income doesn't grow. This program ranks dead center among Nebraska's seven nursing schools—not terrible, but you're looking at middle-tier outcomes in a state where nursing programs generally underperform the national median of $68,000.

For Nebraska families, this might still work if you're staying local and can minimize living costs, but don't expect the typical nursing career progression. Something's off when nurses four years into their careers are earning less than they did as new graduates. If you have options, the top-performing programs in the state deliver $10,000+ more per year without significantly higher debt.