Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Pine Technical & Community College

Pine Technical graduates earn slightly above the Minnesota median for nursing programs ($64,961 vs. $66,484), but they're doing it with notably low debt—$31,282 compared to a state median of $27,655 and a national median of just $20,751. This lands them in the 12th percentile nationally for debt, meaning 88% of nursing programs nationwide leave graduates with less to repay. That debt load matters more when you consider the program ranks 40th percentile in Minnesota earnings, meaning six in ten nursing programs in the state produce higher-earning graduates.

The bigger concern is the backward slide in earnings: graduates actually make less four years out ($62,949) than in their first year. While this could reflect shifting work patterns or part-time employment, it's unusual in nursing, where experience typically brings higher pay. Compare this to top-performing Minnesota programs like Minnesota West ($74,877) or Southeast ($74,091), which command $10,000+ premiums—differences that compound over a career.

For an in-state student committed to staying local, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 is manageable, especially if employment opportunities near Pine City align with your family's needs. But if location is flexible, several Minnesota community colleges deliver meaningfully higher earnings with comparable or lower debt burdens. The numbers suggest this program works best when geography, not pure financial return, drives the decision.