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

Owens Community College's nursing graduates earn notably less four years out than they do immediately after graduation—a $5,000 drop that runs counter to typical career progression. While graduates start at $66,756 (slightly above Ohio's median for nursing programs), that decline to $61,983 raises questions about whether graduates are finding stable, full-time positions or advancing in their careers as expected.

The debt picture offers some reassurance: at $27,168, it's essentially right at Ohio's median and well below the national average. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41, graduates owe less than half their first-year salary—a manageable burden that most nursing graduates should be able to pay down within a few years. The program ranks in the 60th percentile among Ohio nursing schools, meaning it outperforms most in-state competitors, though it lags top programs like Hondros or Herzing by $4,000-7,000 annually.

The earnings decline deserves attention. It could signal graduates starting in higher-paying hospital roles before moving to different settings, or it might reflect part-time work patterns. For a parent, the key consideration is that even at the four-year mark, graduates earn enough to comfortably service their debt—but they're earning less than peers at similarly priced Ohio programs like Sinclair or Mercy College. The investment makes sense if your child values Owens' location or approach, but stronger-performing alternatives exist within the state.