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

South Central College's nursing graduates start at $60,434—roughly $8,000 below what most Minnesota nursing programs deliver and $10,000 under the national median for associate nursing degrees. While this ranks at the 40th percentile statewide (solidly middle-of-the-pack among Minnesota's 24 nursing programs), it's concerning that nearby community colleges like Minnesota West and Rochester are producing graduates who earn $14,000 to $18,000 more in their first year doing the same job. That's real money that compounds over a career.

The debt load of $28,072 is actually close to Minnesota's state median, but paired with below-average starting salaries, it creates a weaker financial position than most nursing programs offer. The 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't alarming for healthcare, and earnings do grow 11% by year four. Still, graduates are playing catch-up: even after four years at $67,211, they're earning less than first-year nurses from top Minnesota programs.

For a field where RN credentials lead to similar job opportunities regardless of where you trained, these earnings gaps matter. If your child can access one of Minnesota's stronger-performing nursing programs—particularly the community colleges posting $70,000+ starting salaries—that's probably worth exploring. The fundamentals here work, but you'd be choosing a program that underperforms most state peers right out of the gate.