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

Shelton State's nursing program earns around $60,540 in the first year—decent money, but that $54,583 figure four years out tells a troubling story. While the 23% debt-to-earnings ratio looks manageable on paper, graduates are actually making less after four years of experience, putting them well behind peers at other Alabama community colleges. Bishop State and Southern Union graduates earn $15,000-$9,000 more annually with similar debt loads.

The 40th percentile ranking among Alabama nursing programs confirms this is a middle-of-the-pack option in a state where community college nursing degrees generally underperform the national average. At $14,000 in debt versus the state median of $16,250, students here do borrow slightly less, but that modest advantage doesn't compensate for the earnings gap. The program serves a significant population of Pell-eligible students (40%), yet leaves them trailing peers who could have attended nearby alternatives.

For parents weighing Alabama community college nursing programs, the backwards earnings trajectory here is the critical issue. New graduates start reasonably well, but something—whether it's clinical training quality, employer preferences, or job placement support—prevents typical wage progression. Consider Bishop State or Southern Union instead, where graduates maintain stronger earning power and see better long-term returns on similar time and debt investments.