Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Western Nebraska Community College

Western Nebraska Community College's nursing program sits squarely in the middle of Nebraska's options—40th percentile statewide—but with notably lighter debt than most competitors. At $16,249, graduates carry about $2,200 less debt than the state median and $4,500 less than the national median. That's meaningful when you're starting at $62,413, giving you a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.26.

The earnings gap is real, though. Graduates here make about $6,000 less than Nebraska's median and trail the top programs in the state by $9,000-$10,000 annually. Given rural Scottsbluff's location, some of that difference may reflect local wage scales rather than program quality, but it's worth considering if your child plans to work in Omaha or Lincoln where the higher-paying programs are based.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty to these figures, but the fundamental trade-off is clear: lower debt in exchange for below-average starting pay. For families prioritizing affordability and students planning to stay in western Nebraska, that trade-off works. If maximizing early earnings matters more, look at Southeast or Metropolitan Community College, though expect to borrow more to get there.