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

Oakland Community College's nursing graduates start strong at nearly $69,000 annually—right at the national median and slightly above Michigan's average. Among the state's 32 nursing programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile, meaning it outperforms about half of the competition. The debt load of $16,010 is notably lower than both the state median ($22,818) and national median ($20,751), creating a favorable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23 that most nursing programs would envy.

The concern lies in what happens next: earnings drop to $58,094 by year four, a 16% decline that's unusual for nursing. This pattern suggests graduates may be starting in higher-paying acute care positions but moving to different roles or reducing hours—possibly for work-life balance or further education. While this dip is worth understanding, it doesn't negate the program's strengths. Michigan's top-performing nursing programs (Jackson College at $76,000, Mid Michigan at $75,500) do offer higher starting salaries, but Oakland's combination of solid initial earnings and manageable debt still creates a reasonable pathway into nursing.

For parents weighing this investment, the low debt burden is the real advantage here. Even with declining earnings in years 2-4, graduates aren't saddled with payments that would make those career transitions problematic. The program delivers reliable entry into nursing without the financial burden that could limit your child's options later.