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

Pennsylvania College of Technology nursing graduates start strong with $78,080 in first-year earnings—slightly above both the state and national medians. But that initial advantage doesn't last: by year four, earnings drop to $68,578, a concerning 12% decline that's unusual in nursing, where salaries typically grow with experience. Within Pennsylvania's 52 nursing programs, this lands in the 40th percentile, trailing schools like Villanova ($86,241) and Thomas Jefferson ($85,656) by a significant margin.

The debt picture offers some relief. At $37,750, graduates carry more than the national median but still maintain a manageable 0.48 debt-to-earnings ratio based on first-year income. The real question is whether that ratio holds up as earnings decline in subsequent years—sudden drops in nursing salaries often signal workforce exits or shifts to part-time work, which could make repayment more challenging than the initial numbers suggest.

For families prioritizing immediate employment at a reasonable debt level, this program delivers on that front. But the earnings trajectory warrants serious consideration, especially when peer Pennsylvania programs show both higher starting salaries and better long-term prospects. If your child plans to stay in Pennsylvania nursing long-term, investigate why graduates' earnings decline—it could reveal important differences in clinical preparation or hospital partnerships compared to the state's stronger programs.