Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Northwest Shoals Community College

Northwest Shoals Community College's nursing program keeps debt remarkably low at just $13,124—well below both the state median ($16,250) and national median ($20,751). That's the good news. The concerning part is where earnings go from there: graduates start at a respectable $56,177, but by year four they're making $49,780, a decline of 11% while other nursing graduates typically see gains. This places the program in just the 5th percentile nationally, though it fares better against Alabama schools specifically, landing at the 40th percentile.

That earnings trajectory matters because several Alabama community colleges produce nursing graduates who start stronger and maintain momentum. Bishop State and Southern Union State graduates, for example, earn $15,000-20,000 more annually within the same state job market. The minimal debt provides a cushion—your child would owe less than 25 cents for every dollar earned in year one—but the declining income pattern suggests graduates may be struggling to access better-paying positions or specialized roles as they gain experience.

For families prioritizing minimal borrowing above all else, this program delivers on that front. But if your child has options among Alabama's nursing programs, schools like Bishop State or Southern Union State offer significantly stronger earning potential without dramatically more debt. The low cost here doesn't fully compensate for landing in the bottom half of Alabama nursing programs on income.