Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Odessa College

Odessa College's nursing program graduates start strong at $72,138—beating both state and national medians—but earnings drop to $63,948 by year four. That's an 11% decline that bucks the typical career trajectory, though even at year four, graduates still out-earn the national median for associate nursing programs. At $13,250 in median debt, this program keeps borrowing remarkably low—well below Texas's $18,000 median and far under the national average of nearly $21,000.

That initial earning advantage matters. Texas nurses command strong salaries compared to the rest of the country, and Odessa grads capture that benefit right away with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.18. This means graduates can pay off their loans in roughly three months of earnings—one of the most favorable debt burdens you'll find in healthcare education. The earnings dip likely reflects local labor market dynamics rather than program quality, as West Texas healthcare facilities may offer different compensation structures than urban centers where top programs like The College of Health Care Professions operate.

For families prioritizing affordability and immediate employability, this program delivers. Your child enters the workforce with minimal debt and a salary that immediately supports financial independence, even if long-term earnings growth lags behind peers at higher-cost programs elsewhere in Texas.