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

Stanly Community College's nursing program stands out in North Carolina for its strong first-year earnings of $76,008—well above both the state median ($67,505) and national median ($68,409) for associate nursing programs. While debt figures are estimated from comparable NC programs at roughly $14,000, this creates a highly favorable 0.19 debt-to-earnings ratio. That means graduates would owe less than three months of their first-year salary, making this among the more affordable paths into nursing. For context, the national median debt for nursing associates is over $20,000, so even the estimated figure here suggests a lighter financial burden.

The puzzling element is the earnings trajectory: reported income drops 18% by year four to $62,543. This isn't typical for nursing, where wages usually climb with experience. It could reflect graduates moving from hospital settings to lower-paid (but perhaps more family-friendly) roles, working part-time, or the small sample size creating statistical noise in one of the years. The year-one figure is what matters most for assessing initial job placement, and that number is solid—competitive with top NC programs like Robeson and Carolinas College of Health Sciences.

For parents, this looks like a strong value proposition based on the data available. The estimated debt is manageable, and graduates enter a field with immediate earning power. Just recognize that the debt figure comes from peer programs, and the earnings drop warrants a conversation with the nursing department about typical career paths for their graduates.