Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Seattle Central College

Seattle Central College's nursing program gets students into a strong-paying field quickly, with graduates earning $83,117 their first year—nearly $15,000 above the national median for associate-level nursing programs. That's a genuine advantage, and the debt load of just over $18,000 keeps the financial risk manageable. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22 means graduates can realistically pay off their loans within a few months of working.

However, context matters here. While these earnings place the program in the 95th percentile nationally, it sits squarely in the middle of Washington's nursing market at the 60th percentile. Looking at the state's top programs, several community colleges produce graduates earning $1,000-1,500 more annually—not a dealbreaker, but worth noting if your child is considering multiple options. Washington's nursing wages are simply elevated across the board, which explains why a middle-of-the-pack state program still looks excellent by national standards.

For a nursing program in Seattle—where the cost of living runs high—these earnings provide genuine financial traction right out of school. The combination of quick entry into a stable field, minimal debt, and six-figure earning potential within a few years makes this a solid investment, even if other Washington community colleges have a slight edge in immediate earnings.