Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Pennsylvania College of Technology

Pennsylvania College of Technology's nursing graduates earn $75,938 in their first year—well above both the state median ($67,241) and national median ($68,409). That's strong performance, placing this program at the 60th percentile among Pennsylvania's 28 nursing programs. However, graduates carry $39,000 in debt, nearly double the state median of $26,000 and almost twice the national median of $20,751. This is premium pricing for an associate's degree, though the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51 remains manageable by nursing standards.

The concerning trend is the earnings decline to $69,178 by year four—a 9% drop that's unusual in nursing, where most programs show steady growth. This dip brings graduates closer to (though still slightly above) state and national medians. It's unclear whether this reflects local market conditions in Williamsport or career path patterns specific to this program's graduates.

For families willing to take on above-average debt, the first-year earnings justify the investment—you're paying more but starting higher. Just understand that this program's salary advantage appears to narrow over time rather than compound. If comparable community college options are geographically accessible with half the debt load, they merit serious consideration despite slightly lower starting salaries.