Rankings / By Major
Best Community Colleges for Nursing
- 50
- Schools
- $41,514
- Avg. Earnings
- 34%
- Avg. Graduation
- $8,309
- Avg. Net Price
- $9,861
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 50 schools run from $34,241 to $52,654, a 1.5× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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West Shore Community College delivers the most for the money: roughly $36,115 in median earnings against $1,527 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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West Shore Community College is the lowest-cost school here at $1,527 a year in net price.
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Lake Area Technical College graduates 69% of its students, versus a 34% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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Alvin Community College carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.10× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 Butte College ($41,810 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, Massachusetts Bay Community College ($52,654), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- West Shore Community College costs $1,527 a year and Lake Area Technical College costs $15,979. Yet their graduates earn $36,115 and $45,473, nowhere near the $14,452 price gap.
- On value, West Shore Community College beats Massachusetts Bay Community College: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
The Takeaway
The schools that win this ranking are not the priciest or the most selective. They turn students into earners without burying them in debt, which is exactly what our outcomes-first methodology is built to surface.
What This Means for Students
If you are choosing from this list, start with West Shore Community College and Lake Area Technical College. Pull each school's net price for your income band, weigh projected earnings against the debt you would take on, and let payoff rather than prestige drive your shortlist.
Why this ranking matters
Healthcare is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $41K within a decade, and registered nurse roles are projected to grow 6%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Butte College #1 overall | $41,810 ▲ +1% vs avg | $5,520 | 38% | 82 |
| 2 Northwest Iowa Community College #2 overall | $50,776 ▲ +22% vs avg | $14,800 | 57% | 81 |
| 3 Massachusetts Bay Community College #3 overall | $52,654 ▲ +27% vs avg | $7,169 | 16% | 81 |
| $41,118 ▼ -1% vs avg | $7,931 | 27% | 81 | |
| $38,678 ▼ -7% vs avg | $10,682 | 29% | 81 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Community Colleges for Nursing
This analysis ranks 50 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $41,514 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 34% and an average net price of $8,309.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: West Shore Community College — Net Price: $1,527 | Graduation Rate: 29%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Lake Area Technical College — 69% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Massachusetts Bay Community College — Median alumni earnings: $52,654
Research Note
The most expensive quartile of colleges costs 373% more than the most affordable — but their graduates earn just 34% more.
Healthcare Workforce Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the U.S. healthcare workforce?
$40,845
Median earnings (10yr)
30%
Median graduation rate
$7,811
Median net price
1.6%
Avg. mobility rate
The healthcare workforce pipeline starts in classrooms and clinical rotations like the ones behind this list. An aging population, persistent nursing shortages, and rising demand for clinical services have made these programs essential infrastructure. The strongest ones stand out on clinical partnerships and licensure outcomes, the two factors that translate most directly into hiring.
Across the 50 programs on this list, graduates earn a median of $40,845 ten years after they first enrolled. The median graduation rate is 30%. Net price, what students pay after grants, runs a median of $7,811 a year, with about $10,005 in median federal debt at graduation. An average of 32% of students receive Pell grants, and the typical school moves low-income students into the top income quintile at a rate of 1.6%.
What we’re seeing: demographic pressure keeps demand high, and programs with embedded clinical networks convert that demand into employment fastest. Butte College leads the list, and graduates across these programs earn a median of $40,845 ten years after enrollment. The constraint is not jobs. It is clinical capacity and licensure throughput, and that is where the strongest programs pull away.
The podium
Build your ranking
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Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Butte College lands at #1 with a 82/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by academic quality (51/100). Graduates earn a median $41,810 a decade after enrolling, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $5,520 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Northwest Iowa Community College lands at #2 with a 81/100 composite, led by social mobility (87/100) and pulled down by academic quality (70/100). Graduates earn a median $50,776 a decade after enrolling, 22% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,800 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Massachusetts Bay Community College lands at #3 with a 81/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (41/100). Graduates earn a median $52,654 a decade after enrolling, 27% above this list's average, and net price runs $7,169 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Mount Wachusett Community College lands at #4 with a 81/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (60/100). Graduates earn a median $41,118 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,931 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Temple College lands at #5 with a 81/100 composite, led by social mobility (91/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Graduates earn a median $38,678 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,682 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Salem Community College lands at #6 with a 81/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (63/100). Graduates earn a median $38,020 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,816 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Kishwaukee College lands at #7 with a 81/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $39,657 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,574 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Allen County Community College lands at #8 with a 80/100 composite, led by social mobility (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (46/100). Graduates earn a median $40,059 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,642 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Mendocino College lands at #9 with a 80/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (45/100). Graduates earn a median $40,243 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,330 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
North Shore Community College lands at #10 with a 80/100 composite, led by value per dollar (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (57/100). Graduates earn a median $45,391 a decade after enrolling, 9% above this list's average, and net price runs $9,000 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Independence Community College lands at #11 with a 80/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by academic quality (48/100). Graduates earn a median $34,941 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $3,265 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Victoria College lands at #12 with a 80/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by academic quality (44/100). Graduates earn a median $42,382 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $3,043 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Lake Region State College lands at #13 with a 80/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (65/100). Graduates earn a median $49,502 a decade after enrolling, 19% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,577 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
Manor College lands at #14 with a 79/100 composite, led by social mobility (88/100) and pulled down by academic quality (43/100). Graduates earn a median $46,825 a decade after enrolling, 13% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,078 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Paris Junior College lands at #15 with a 79/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $36,515 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,690 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
Northern Essex Community College lands at #16 with a 79/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (47/100). Graduates earn a median $42,862 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $6,046 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
Piedmont Virginia Community College lands at #17 with a 79/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $40,752 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,963 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
Muskegon Community College lands at #18 with a 79/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by academic quality (60/100). Graduates earn a median $36,549 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,005 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
Northern Wyoming Community College District lands at #19 with a 79/100 composite, led by value per dollar (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (61/100). Graduates earn a median $40,477 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,346 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
Lake Area Technical College lands at #20 with a 78/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (64/100). Graduates earn a median $45,473 a decade after enrolling, 10% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,979 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #21
Western Nebraska Community College lands at #21 with a 78/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by academic quality (61/100). Graduates earn a median $38,729 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,474 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #22
Casper College lands at #22 with a 78/100 composite, led by value per dollar (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (62/100). Graduates earn a median $40,935 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,593 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #23
Germanna Community College lands at #23 with a 78/100 composite, led by value per dollar (88/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $39,644 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,541 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #24
Georgia Highlands College lands at #24 with a 78/100 composite, led by value per dollar (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (47/100). Graduates earn a median $43,184 a decade after enrolling, 4% above this list's average, and net price runs $6,928 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #25
Bristol Community College lands at #25 with a 78/100 composite, led by social mobility (93/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Graduates earn a median $38,663 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,547 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #26
North Country Community College lands at #26 with a 78/100 composite, led by social mobility (78/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $38,276 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $11,868 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #27
Atlantic Cape Community College lands at #27 with a 78/100 composite, led by value per dollar (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (61/100). Graduates earn a median $34,241 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,392 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #28
North Central Missouri College lands at #28 with a 78/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (64/100). Graduates earn a median $40,837 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,626 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #29
West Shore Community College lands at #29 with a 78/100 composite, led by value per dollar (94/100) and pulled down by academic quality (50/100). Graduates earn a median $36,115 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $1,527 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #30
Raritan Valley Community College lands at #30 with a 78/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (66/100). Graduates earn a median $48,145 a decade after enrolling, 16% above this list's average, and net price runs $6,778 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #31
Monroe County Community College lands at #31 with a 78/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (48/100). Graduates earn a median $41,646 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $4,586 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #32
Hudson County Community College lands at #32 with a 78/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (59/100). Graduates earn a median $34,333 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,307 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #33
Lower Columbia College lands at #33 with a 78/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $40,691 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,630 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #34
Sierra College lands at #34 with a 77/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $45,294 a decade after enrolling, 9% above this list's average, and net price runs $7,245 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #35
Iowa Central Community College lands at #35 with a 77/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (63/100). Graduates earn a median $42,046 a decade after enrolling, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $9,328 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #36
Central Ohio Technical College lands at #36 with a 77/100 composite, led by value per dollar (77/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (63/100). Graduates earn a median $39,168 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,948 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #37
Dakota College at Bottineau lands at #37 with a 77/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $40,576 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,039 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #38
College of Marin lands at #38 with a 77/100 composite, led by value per dollar (78/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $42,654 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,351 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #39
South Florida State College lands at #39 with a 77/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by academic quality (51/100). Graduates earn a median $39,990 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $3,877 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #40
Howard Community College lands at #40 with a 77/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (49/100). Graduates earn a median $49,020 a decade after enrolling, 18% above this list's average, and net price runs $11,133 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #41
Alvin Community College lands at #41 with a 77/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (44/100). Graduates earn a median $45,762 a decade after enrolling, 10% above this list's average, and net price runs $8,525 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #42
Dyersburg State Community College lands at #42 with a 77/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by academic quality (45/100). Graduates earn a median $36,132 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,612 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #43
College of Southern Idaho lands at #43 with a 77/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (65/100). Graduates earn a median $40,916 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,095 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #44
Greenfield Community College lands at #44 with a 77/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (43/100). Graduates earn a median $37,132 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,679 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #45
Lansing Community College lands at #45 with a 77/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (45/100). Graduates earn a median $39,206 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,437 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #46
Weatherford College lands at #46 with a 77/100 composite, led by value per dollar (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (60/100). Graduates earn a median $42,397 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $9,967 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #47
Community College of Philadelphia lands at #47 with a 77/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (46/100). Graduates earn a median $40,852 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $11,911 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #48
Connecticut State Community College lands at #48 with a 77/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (61/100). Graduates earn a median $41,344 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $11,513 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #49
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred lands at #49 with a 77/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (63/100). Graduates earn a median $50,445 a decade after enrolling, 22% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,016 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #50
Community College of Rhode Island lands at #50 with a 77/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (60/100). Graduates earn a median $42,659 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $6,513 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 50 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Top states on this list
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become Registered Nurses and related roles — a field with $86,070 median pay and 6% projected growth.
See the Registered Nurse career guide →Choosing a community college for nursing can be a pivotal decision. These institutions share a commitment to preparing students for a rewarding career in healthcare, with nursing programs that cater to both new students and those looking to advance their careers. On average, nursing graduates from these colleges earn about $40,883 annually, which underscores the economic potential of this field.
What sets the top schools apart is not just their graduation rates but also their graduates’ earning potential and manageable debt levels. For instance, while the average graduation rate across these colleges is 36%, some schools like North Central Missouri College boast a completion rate of 57%. This means students at these institutions are more likely to finish their degrees and enter the workforce ready to make a difference.
Take Mount Wachusett Community College and North Shore Community College, for example. Mount Wachusett graduates earn an average of $41,118 but have a lower graduation rate of 27%. In contrast, North Shore offers a higher earning potential at $45,391 despite a graduation rate of only 18%. This illustrates the tradeoff between potential earnings and completion rates, an important consideration as you weigh your options.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 50 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 1.6%. Hudson County Community College leads the group at 4%, with Victoria College (3.1%) and Community College of Philadelphia (2.8%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 13.4% of students start in the bottom income quintile. Hudson County Community College leads at 36.3%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 12.4% across this list. Northwest Iowa Community College posts the highest success rate at 22.4%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 1.23 against a national benchmark of 1.0. Raritan Valley Community College reaches 1.72, the highest on the list.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
Where These Schools Are Located
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Community Colleges for Nursing: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Community Colleges for Nursing ranking? +
Butte College in Oroville, CA ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Community Colleges for Nursing ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $41,810 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 38% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Massachusetts Bay Community College posts the highest median earnings on this list: $52,654 ten years after enrollment, well above the $41,514 average across the 50 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, West Shore Community College leads: graduates earn a median $36,115 against net price of about $1,527 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Lake Area Technical College has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 69%, compared with a 34% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $8,309 a year across the 50 ranked schools with cost data. West Shore Community College is among the most affordable at roughly $1,527. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Community Colleges for Nursing ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 50 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
Related Rankings
