Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Tyler Junior College

Tyler Junior College's nursing program lands squarely in the middle of the pack—40th percentile both nationally and among Texas schools—which means students here earn about $5,000 less annually than the typical Texas nursing graduate. The concerning part isn't just the lower starting salary of $66,769, but that earnings actually drop to $63,050 by year four. Compare that trajectory to top Texas programs like El Paso Community College or Weatherford College, where graduates earn $13,000-$15,000 more right out of the gate and typically see their incomes rise with experience.

The $20,000 debt load is reasonable and close to both state and national medians, translating to a manageable 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's the silver lining here: your child won't be crushed by debt. But with 64 nursing programs across Texas, many offering significantly better outcomes for similar cost, this particular program appears to be missing something—whether it's clinical placements at higher-paying facilities or connections to employers who value continuing education and advancement.

For a family considering in-state options, this is a safe-but-not-optimal choice. If your child has been admitted to Tyler but could also attend a community college like El Paso, Paris, or Weatherford, those programs deliver substantially better returns. If Tyler is the only realistic option due to location or other constraints, the debt is at least manageable enough that your child can build a nursing career—just expect a slower financial start than peers at stronger Texas programs.