Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Wake Technical Community College

Wake Tech's nursing program starts strong with first-year earnings of $68,266, but an 11% decline to $60,570 by year four raises questions about career trajectory. While the program ranks in the 60th percentile among North Carolina nursing programs—performing above the state median—it sits squarely at the national average and trails regional competitors like Robeson Community College and Stanly Community College by $10,000-$15,000 in early earnings.

The $24,750 in debt is notably higher than North Carolina's typical nursing debt of $14,725, though still manageable with an initial debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36. What's concerning is that graduates seem to be earning less as they gain experience, which runs counter to typical nursing career progression. This could reflect graduates moving to lower-paying care settings, reducing hours, or other factors not captured in the data.

For families weighing options, Wake Tech delivers a functioning pathway to nursing licensure at a community college price point, but other North Carolina community colleges appear to position graduates for stronger earnings trajectories. If your child is accepted to multiple nursing programs in the state, comparing the debt loads and placement patterns would be worthwhile—the earnings gap with top NC programs widens over time rather than narrows.