Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Southern Regional Technical College

Southern Regional Technical College's nursing program starts strong with first-year earnings near $70,000—just below the national median—but the 11% earnings decline to $62,000 by year four is a red flag. Among Georgia's 31 nursing programs, this ranks only in the 40th percentile, trailing the state median by nearly $9,000. Top performers like Chattahoochee Technical and West Georgia Technical deliver significantly higher returns, with graduates earning $20,000+ more annually.

The low debt load of $10,531 is the program's strongest selling point, coming in well below both the state median ($19,166) and national average ($20,751). This creates a favorable 0.15 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe just 15% of their first-year salary—manageable by any standard. For students from modest backgrounds (44% receive Pell grants), keeping debt this low matters.

The core question is whether accepting below-median Georgia nursing earnings is worth the debt savings. If your child plans to stay in the Thomasville area where cost of living is lower, the difference may matter less. But if they're considering relocating to Atlanta or other higher-paying markets, starting at a program that delivers $62,000 by year four—when peers from stronger programs are earning $75,000-plus—could mean missing out on significant lifetime earnings that far outweigh the initial debt advantage.