Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Butte College

Butte College nursing graduates enter the workforce earning $104,268—that's $36,000 above the national median and places them in the 95th percentile nationally. Even more relevant for California families: while this sits at the 60th percentile statewide (California nursing salaries run exceptionally high), it's competitive with programs costing far more. The debt load of $15,375 is reasonable, creating a 0.15 debt-to-earnings ratio that most families can manage comfortably.

The earnings dip to $98,229 by year four deserves attention but likely reflects typical patterns in nursing careers—graduates may start in high-paying acute care settings before shifting to roles with better schedules or work-life balance as their priorities evolve. What matters more: even at year four, earnings remain substantially above both national and state medians for this credential. With one-third of students receiving Pell grants, Butte clearly serves working-class families well while delivering outcomes that rival far more expensive programs.

For California families weighing community college nursing options, this program punches above its weight class. You're getting near-elite earning potential at a fraction of the debt burden carried by students at private institutions. The strong sample size confirms these aren't outlier results—this is what Butte nursing graduates consistently achieve.