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

Olympic College's nursing program produces first-year earnings of $88,069—substantially higher than the national median of $74,888 and competitive with Washington's nursing market. While the debt figure of $18,750 is estimated from comparable programs in the state, the resulting debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21 suggests a manageable financial burden. Graduates would be paying roughly 21 cents in debt for every dollar earned in their first year, well below the threshold where student loans typically become problematic.

What makes this particularly notable is how Olympic College stacks up against Washington's nursing landscape. The state's nursing programs produce some of the highest earnings nationally, and this program holds its own—landing between the University of Washington campuses and programs like Walla Walla University. Similar programs across Washington typically carry debt closer to $23,000, so the estimated $18,750 burden here appears relatively modest for the field.

The practical reality: nursing shortages in the Pacific Northwest have driven up entry-level salaries significantly, and Olympic College graduates appear positioned to benefit from this market. Even if actual debt runs somewhat higher than the state-based estimate, the strong earnings make this program a financially sound investment. Parents should verify current debt levels directly with the financial aid office, but the fundamental value proposition—lower debt paired with competitive nursing salaries—looks solid.