Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Sandusky Career Center

Sandusky Career Center's nursing certificate program sits solidly in the middle of Ohio's offerings—neither a standout nor a red flag. Graduates earn $64,563 in their first year while carrying $25,055 in debt, placing them near the 40th percentile among Ohio nursing programs. That's roughly $2,100 below what the typical Ohio nursing graduate earns, though it's important to note that half the students here receive Pell grants, suggesting the program serves a more economically vulnerable population.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 is reasonable for a nursing credential—students borrow less than 40% of what they'll earn in year one. That's manageable by healthcare education standards, where clinical training costs can balloon quickly. The program stays close to both national and state debt medians, suggesting responsible lending practices. While you won't see the $70,000+ first-year salaries that top Ohio programs deliver, you're also not gambling on an outlier.

For families where staying local in the Sandusky area matters, or where minimizing upfront costs is essential, this program gets students credentialed and earning at close to the state median. The nearby hospitals and skilled nursing facilities provide obvious employment pipelines. Just understand you're choosing accessibility and steady outcomes over premium earning potential—a perfectly valid trade depending on your circumstances.