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

A $10,666 debt estimate based on similar Virginia community college nursing programs suggests Rappahannock may deliver considerably better value than the typical nursing diploma or certificate nationwide, where median debt reaches $23,562. While the estimated first-year earnings of $66,398 come from national benchmarks—not this school's actual graduates—that figure sits well above Virginia's state median of $53,578 for the credential. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.16 would be strong if these estimates hold, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans with less than two months' gross salary.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With too few graduates to report actual outcomes, there's no way to verify whether Rappahannock's nursing students achieve earnings closer to the national benchmark or Virginia's lower median. The state's range is wide: some Virginia programs produce graduates earning near $59,000 (Brightpoint Community College), while others cluster closer to $48,000 (Wytheville). Location matters significantly in nursing—Northern Virginia hospitals pay differently than rural facilities—and Rappahannock's placement in the Middle Peninsula could affect which opportunities graduates access most readily.

For families prioritizing minimal debt exposure, this program appears positioned to deliver that, assuming the state-based debt estimate is accurate. But confirm exactly where recent graduates are finding employment and at what starting salaries before committing, since the earnings figure remains an educated guess rather than a track record.