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

Northeast Iowa Community College graduates start their nursing careers nearly $9,000 below the national median—landing in just the 5th percentile nationally—but there's an important twist. Within Iowa, this program sits squarely at the state median and ranks in the 60th percentile, meaning it's actually performing slightly above average compared to in-state alternatives. For Iowa families planning to stay in-state, this reflects regional wage realities rather than program quality issues.

The debt load of $23,562 is manageable at first glance, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 that most financial advisors would consider reasonable. However, the 5% earnings decline from year one to year four raises questions about whether these graduates are accessing the same advancement opportunities available to nurses elsewhere. While many nursing careers see steady wage growth through specialization or management tracks, these graduates appear to plateau early.

For Iowa families committed to staying in the region, this program offers a straightforward path into nursing without excessive debt. The diploma provides licensure at half the cost of many BSN programs. But families should recognize they're trading geographic flexibility for affordability—these earnings figures suggest graduates who remain in rural Iowa healthcare markets, where wages simply don't match urban or coastal standards. If your child might relocate after graduation, compare carefully against BSN programs that provide stronger national earning power.