Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Wilson Community College

Wilson Community College's nursing program graduates earn a solid $70,152 in their first year—beating both the state median ($67,505) and national median ($68,409). However, earnings actually drop to $64,249 by year four, a pattern worth understanding before committing. This could reflect the local healthcare market in Wilson, where experienced nurses may need to relocate to larger medical centers for advancement opportunities. The debt load of $20,477 is manageable, though notably higher than the typical North Carolina nursing program (which averages $14,725).

The value proposition here depends on your child's plans. If they intend to work locally in Wilson for a few years, that $70,000 starting salary with reasonable debt makes this worthwhile. But if career growth matters—and they're open to living elsewhere—the top-performing North Carolina programs like Robeson or Stanly offer starting salaries $7,000+ higher and might better position them for long-term earnings. Wilson's 60th percentile ranking among NC nursing programs suggests it's middle-of-the-pack for the state.

For students committed to staying in Wilson or needing an accessible entry point into nursing, this works. But families should be clear-eyed about the earnings trajectory and consider whether proximity to home justifies potentially leaving $30,000+ on the table over a career compared to stronger programs just a few hours away.