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

Onondaga Community College graduates start strong with $70,178 in first-year earnings—above the national median—but then earnings actually decline to $66,908 by year four. More concerning: these graduates earn $6,500 less than the typical New York nursing program at the four-year mark, landing in just the 40th percentile statewide. When top-performing nursing programs in New York are launching graduates into $90,000-100,000+ careers, Onondaga's outcomes suggest you're paying New York prices (debt is near the state median) for below-average New York results.

The positive story here is the debt load: at $24,359, it's manageable relative to first-year earnings (35-cent debt for every dollar earned). You're looking at monthly payments around $250-270, which is workable on a nursing salary. But the earnings trajectory reverses what you'd expect—most nurses see pay increases as they gain experience, not decreases.

This makes sense for a community college nursing program if you're prioritizing affordability and local employment over maximizing long-term earning potential. The degree gets your child licensed and working quickly with reasonable debt. Just recognize that if career earnings growth matters—and in nursing, it typically does—there are stronger options across New York that would better justify similar debt levels.