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

Nursing graduates typically enter the workforce with strong earning potential, but first-year earnings of $56,641 from this program lag meaningfully behind both state and national benchmarks. Similar associate nursing programs in Illinois produce median earnings around $66,360, while the national median sits at $68,409. Community colleges like Moraine Valley and College of Lake County are seeing their graduates earn over $72,000 in that first year—a gap of nearly $16,000 compared to Shawnee's outcomes.

The estimated debt picture, based on comparable Illinois programs, looks manageable at roughly $14,437—well below the national median of $20,751 for nursing associate degrees. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.25 is solid, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off loans in under four months of gross earnings. For the 34% of students receiving Pell grants, this relatively low debt burden matters.

The concern here is whether lower earnings reflect regional wage differences in southern Illinois or if graduates are struggling to land the same opportunities as peers from programs closer to Chicago's healthcare hubs. If your child plans to work near Ullin after graduation, research what local hospitals and clinics actually pay new RNs. If they're willing to relocate to higher-paying markets, the credential itself should transfer—but they'll be starting with weaker momentum than peers from stronger programs in the state.