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

Shoreline Community College's nursing program graduates earn nearly $79,000 right out of the gate—about $10,000 above the national median and in the 88th percentile nationally. But here's the catch: in Washington state, where nursing salaries run unusually high, this places graduates squarely in the middle of the pack at the 40th percentile. Several other community colleges in the area, including Highline and Olympic, send their graduates into jobs paying $5,000-6,000 more annually.

The debt picture is reasonable at $16,334, manageable on a first-year salary that produces a 0.21 debt-to-earnings ratio. The bigger concern is the slight earnings decline between years one and four—graduates actually make marginally less four years out, suggesting these early nursing positions may hit a ceiling without additional credentials. This isn't unique to Shoreline, but it's worth considering if your child plans to pursue a BSN or advanced practice role later.

If your child needs an affordable entry point into nursing and plans to stay in the Seattle area, Shoreline delivers solid outcomes with manageable debt. Just recognize that within Washington's competitive nursing market, this program sits in the middle tier. The earnings are strong enough to justify the investment, but if proximity isn't an issue, neighboring programs offer noticeably higher starting salaries for similar debt loads.