Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Red Rocks Community College

Nursing programs in Colorado command strong starting salaries, and while Red Rocks lacks its own reported outcomes, peer programs suggest solid returns. The estimated $66,398 first-year earnings sits just below Colorado's median of nearly $70,000 for nursing certificates—Pueblo Community College's graduates, for instance, earn that higher figure. The estimated $19,250 in debt matches the state median and creates a manageable 0.29 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe roughly three months of their first-year salary.

What works in this program's favor is the career path itself. Nursing certificates provide direct entry to a profession with immediate earning power and clear advancement opportunities. Even at the conservative national median estimate, these earnings substantially outpace what most certificate programs deliver. The debt load, while not negligible, reflects the compressed timeline of certificate training rather than a four-year degree.

The uncertainty here matters more than usual: with 11 nursing programs in Colorado, outcomes can vary based on clinical partnerships, pass rates, and local employer relationships that estimates can't capture. Before committing, verify Red Rocks' NCLEX pass rates and ask where recent graduates secured positions. The fundamentals look reasonable based on peer programs, but nursing is one field where the specific school's clinical training quality and reputation with local hospitals makes a tangible difference in that crucial first job placement.