Colby Community College Nursing Program Opens the Door to High-Demand Careers with Strong Scholarship Support

For students with aspirations in healthcare, Colby Community College's Nursing Program offers something increasingly difficult to find in higher education: an affordable pathway to a well-paying career with strong job security, extensive scholarship opportunities, and graduates who are finding employment almost immediately after earning their licenses.

According to Michaelle Bliss, Director of Nursing at Colby Community College, one of the biggest misconceptions prospective students have is the cost of pursuing a nursing degree.

"There are a lot of scholarships available just to nursing," Bliss said. "For the most part, a lot of our students have very little debt when they come out of nursing because of the scholarships and endowment funds that are available."

Bliss said one of the biggest challenges isn't a lack of funding—it's convincing students to apply.

"I encourage students to fill out the scholarship applications," she said. "Some don't want to do the work, but one application can qualify them for multiple scholarships."

That financial assistance is helping students enter one of the region's most in-demand professions.

CCC's nursing program follows a "1+1" format, allowing students to complete the Practical Nursing (PN) curriculum during their first year before continuing into the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program during year two.

After completing the first year, students are eligible to take the NCLEX-PN licensing examination and begin working as Licensed Practical Nurses while continuing toward becoming Registered Nurses. Students who complete the second year qualify to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and earn their Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing. The college also offers a pre-nursing pathway for students planning to pursue bachelor's degrees, as well as transition opportunities for experienced paramedics and respiratory therapists seeking RN licensure.

The career outlook is equally attractive.

Starting salaries for registered nurses frequently approach or exceed $80,000 annually depending on specialty, employer and location, Bliss said. Opportunities exist in hospitals, long-term care facilities, emergency departments, obstetrics, schools, clinics, public health agencies and countless other healthcare settings.

"There are so many options in nursing," Bliss said. "You can stay in a small rural hospital, work in a large medical center, specialize in emergency care, labor and delivery, research—there are just so many directions you can go."

That demand translates directly into employment opportunities for graduates.

"We have a 100 percent job placement rate," Bliss said. "Six to eight months after graduation, every student who responds to our employment survey is working."

The program has also established a reputation for preparing students to pass the national licensure examinations. Bliss said the program's three-year average first-time pass rate is approximately 94.9 percent for Practical Nursing students and 88.5 percent for Associate Degree Nursing graduates, with both programs achieving a perfect 100 percent first-time pass rate in one recent graduating class. CCC has previously celebrated graduating classes with 100 percent NCLEX pass rates, placing the program among the state's top performers.

Bliss attributes much of that success to the college's learning environment.

"Our class sizes are smaller, and our instructors are very dedicated," she said. "Students receive a lot of one-on-one attention if they need it."

Many students also begin working locally while enrolled in the program.

"A lot of our students start as CNAs at local hospitals or nursing homes," Bliss explained. "They work their way through the program, become LPNs, and by the time they graduate as RNs, they often already have jobs waiting for them."

The nursing curriculum is designed with non-traditional students in mind as well. Nursing courses meet four days each week, leaving Fridays available for students who need to maintain employment while completing their education.

The program is also preparing for future growth. Following the closure of the Norton nursing site, simulation equipment, hospital beds, mannequins and laboratory supplies are being relocated to Colby, allowing the college to expand its simulation laboratories while grant funding is being used to purchase updated equipment and training technology.

Students interested in the program should also plan ahead.

Applications for the fall nursing cohort are accepted annually, with a March 1 deadline. Because enrollment is limited and classes often fill well before the start of the academic year, Bliss encourages prospective students—especially current high school juniors and seniors—to begin preparing early.

For those willing to invest two years into their education, the payoff can be significant: minimal student debt through scholarships, a respected education close to home, strong licensure pass rates, and the opportunity to step directly into one of the nation's most stable and rewarding careers.

For more information about Colby Community College's Nursing Program, admissions requirements, or available nursing scholarships, visit the college's nursing department or contact the CCC Financial Aid Office.

by Derek White