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

Surry Community College's nursing program offers above-average outcomes at a fraction of the typical cost. Graduates earn $69,740 their first year—ahead of both the North Carolina median ($67,505) and national median ($68,409)—while carrying just $13,574 in debt. That debt load is 35% lower than the state average and nearly half the national median, giving this program one of the better debt-to-earnings ratios you'll find in nursing education.

Ranking in the 60th percentile among North Carolina's 59 nursing programs, Surry sits comfortably in the upper tier without quite reaching the top programs like Robeson or Stanly (which produce graduates earning $76,000-$77,000). The tradeoff here is modest: you're looking at about $7,000 less in first-year earnings compared to the state's highest performers, but you're also avoiding significantly more debt in many cases.

For families weighing nursing programs in North Carolina, Surry delivers strong earning potential with minimal financial risk. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.19 means graduates can realistically pay off their loans within months rather than years, making this a financially sound path into a stable profession. Unless your child can access one of the top-tier NC programs at similar cost, Surry represents solid value.