Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Wabash Valley College

Nursing programs in Illinois show substantial earnings variation, and Wabash Valley College sits solidly in the middle of the pack. The estimated first-year earnings of $66,360—drawn from 36 comparable Illinois nursing programs—matches the state median exactly, though it trails the top community college programs in the state by $5,000 to $9,000. This gap likely reflects geography more than program quality; Mount Carmel's rural location means graduates may work in areas with lower nursing wages than Chicago's suburbs, where the highest-earning programs cluster.

The debt picture is favorable. At $14,437, graduates here borrow slightly less than the $14,500 state median and well below the $20,751 national benchmark. This creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22, meaning the typical graduate could theoretically pay off their loans in under three months of gross earnings. However, the four-year earnings figure of $57,322—which is actual reported data, not an estimate—raises questions about career progression or whether graduates leave nursing or reduce hours after initial employment.

For families prioritizing minimal debt over maximum starting salary, this program delivers. The estimated numbers suggest graduates enter the workforce earning what most Illinois nursing programs produce while carrying 30% less debt than the national average. Just recognize that first-year earnings are an educated guess based on peer institutions, not tracked outcomes from this specific campus.