Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Southeastern Technical College

Southeastern Technical College's nursing program shows an unusual pattern: graduates start at $63,000—well below Georgia's median of $71,000 for nursing programs—and then earnings actually decline to $58,000 by year four. Among Georgia's 31 nursing programs, this ranks at just the 40th percentile, trailing schools like Chattahoochee Technical ($86,454) and West Georgia Technical ($83,943) by more than $20,000 annually. The dip in earnings over time is particularly puzzling for a nursing credential, where experience typically commands higher pay.

The program's one clear advantage is extraordinarily low debt: at $11,301, it's less than half the state median and among the lowest in the country. That 0.18 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe roughly two months' salary, making this one of the most affordable nursing programs anywhere. For students from low-income backgrounds (39% receive Pell grants here), that minimal debt burden matters.

The tradeoff is stark: pay $8,000 less in debt but potentially earn $13,000 less per year than at Georgia's median nursing program. Over a career, those lower earnings compound into hundreds of thousands of dollars. If your child can handle moderate debt and wants to maximize earning potential, Georgia has stronger nursing options. If avoiding debt is the absolute priority and you're comfortable with below-average nursing salaries, the low cost here provides a safety net.