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

Southwestern Community College's nursing program sits in an uncomfortable middle position—below the median for North Carolina nursing programs but with relatively manageable debt. While first-year earnings of $61,931 trail the state median by about $5,500, graduates carry roughly $14,600 in debt, slightly below the NC average and well below the national figure. That puts this program in the 40th percentile statewide—meaning more than half of NC nursing programs produce better outcomes. Compare this to top performers like Robeson Community College, where graduates earn $77,475, and the gap becomes stark.

The concerning element is the earnings trajectory: graduates see incomes drop 10% by year four rather than grow. In a field known for steady career progression, this backward slide warrants scrutiny, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means a few atypical career paths could skew the picture significantly. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.24 is reasonable—graduates could theoretically pay off loans within three years—but that assumes earnings don't continue declining.

For families considering this program, the calculus depends on alternatives. If you're local to Sylva and avoiding housing costs matters, the affordable debt load makes this workable despite middling outcomes. But if relocating anyway, other NC community colleges deliver significantly stronger results for similar or lower costs. The 30% Pell grant enrollment suggests this school serves students with limited options, but that doesn't change the earnings reality: you're likely getting below-average results for North Carolina nursing training.