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

Salem Community College's nursing associate degree places graduates just below New Jersey's middle tier—sitting at the 40th percentile statewide despite ranking nationally in the 76th percentile. This gap tells you something important: New Jersey nursing programs generally perform well, and several community colleges in the state achieve significantly stronger outcomes. Hudson County and Eastern International College, for instance, produce graduates earning $90,000+ within the first year, roughly $17,000 more than Salem's median.

The program does offer reasonable affordability with debt around $25,000 and a first-year salary above $74,000, creating a manageable 0.34 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's better than most undergraduate programs across fields. For families evaluating community college nursing options in southern New Jersey, this represents a viable pathway to a stable career without catastrophic debt.

However, the small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing considerably year to year. If transportation isn't a barrier, exploring programs at Ocean County College or Union County College—both achieving earnings over $82,000—might justify the commute. But if local access matters most and your child needs the flexibility of a nearby community college, Salem delivers acceptable value. Just understand you're paying similar debt for outcomes that trail the state's stronger nursing programs by 10-15%.