Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Roane State Community College

Roane State's nursing graduates earn about $9,000 less than the typical Tennessee nursing associate degree holder—and nearly $12,000 below the national median. While the program keeps debt remarkably low at $11,518 (less than half the national average), those earnings put graduates at the 40th percentile statewide and just the 5th percentile nationally. Compare this to nearby programs: Cleveland State grads earn $69,000, and Dyersburg State grads pull in $74,000 annually.

The 0.20 debt-to-earnings ratio looks excellent on paper, and graduates do avoid the heavy debt burdens common at many nursing programs. However, the modest earnings growth—just $1,000 over four years—suggests limited advancement potential. When other Tennessee community colleges are producing graduates who earn $15,000-$20,000 more annually, that gap compounds significantly over a career.

For families prioritizing minimal debt, Roane State delivers. But if your child can access higher-performing Tennessee nursing programs like Dyersburg State or Southwest Tennessee, the earnings advantage—roughly $17,000 more per year—would more than justify moderate additional debt. The question isn't whether this leads to employment (it does), but whether settling for bottom-tier earnings makes sense when stronger in-state alternatives exist at similar community college price points.