Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Wayne County Community College District

Wayne County Community College's nursing program starts graduates around $67,000—slightly below both the Michigan median ($68,396) and national median ($68,409)—and ranks in the 40th percentile statewide. More concerning is the earnings trajectory: graduates actually earn less four years out ($63,355) than they do initially, a 6% decline that runs counter to typical nursing career progression. The debt load of $24,487 sits near the middle of the national range, resulting in a manageable 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio, but the payoff weakens as those earnings slip.

For context, nearby community colleges place nursing graduates at substantially higher starting points—Jackson College and Mid Michigan both above $75,000. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift with more data, but the downward earnings pattern deserves attention. It may reflect graduates working part-time, leaving the field, or facing challenging job market conditions in Detroit.

The math still works—nursing graduates here can handle their debt on year-one salaries—but this program doesn't appear to launch careers as successfully as Michigan's stronger community college nursing options. If your child is committed to staying in Detroit, this remains a viable path to an RN license. But if they're geographically flexible within Michigan, several community colleges deliver better financial outcomes for similar or lower cost.