Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at St Charles Community College

St. Charles Community College's nursing program outperforms most Missouri schools, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide, though the earnings trajectory deserves a closer look. First-year graduates earn $68,488—about $5,000 above Missouri's median and essentially matching the national average. With just $18,712 in debt, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27 is excellent, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in roughly four months of gross earnings.

The puzzling aspect is the earnings drop to $61,534 by year four. This could reflect several factors: nurses switching to part-time schedules for lifestyle reasons, moving to lower-paying healthcare settings, or simply the volatility that comes with a moderate sample size. However, even at year four, earnings remain competitive with most Missouri programs.

For an anxious parent, the low debt is the headline here—about $2,500 less than both state and national medians. That limited financial risk, combined with strong starting salaries, makes this a solid community college option. Your child enters the workforce quickly with manageable debt and earnings that exceed most peers in Missouri. Just be aware that salary growth isn't guaranteed in this field, so banking on significantly higher income down the road may not be realistic.