Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Pellissippi State Community College

Pellissippi State's nursing program produces graduates earning roughly $10,000 less than Tennessee's median for associate nursing degrees—a significant gap that places it in just the 25th percentile statewide. When peer community colleges like Dyersburg State and Southwest Tennessee produce graduates earning $72,000-$74,000 within a year, versus Pellissippi's $55,000, parents should understand they're looking at one of the weaker-performing nursing programs in the state despite reasonable debt levels.

The $16,000 debt load is manageable and slightly below state norms, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.3 that works mathematically. However, the modest 3% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates aren't gaining significant ground, and starting nearly $13,000 behind the national median ($68,409) is difficult to overcome. The program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of associate nursing programs produce higher-earning graduates.

For families in the Knoxville area, this creates a real dilemma. Community college nursing programs typically offer solid value, but Pellissippi appears to be an exception within Tennessee's community college system. If geography permits, Cleveland State or Southwest Tennessee would deliver substantially better outcomes with similar debt. If Pellissippi is the only realistic option, understand that nursing salaries here start lower than typical for the profession, though the debt burden won't be crushing.