Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at California Career College

California Career College's nursing graduates earn nearly $100,000 in their first year—44% above the national median and placing them in the 95th percentile nationally. That's exceptional performance for an associate degree program. However, context matters: in California's high-paying nursing market, these earnings land right at the state median, in the 60th percentile among 109 programs. The state's top performers push well into the $110,000-$120,000 range, suggesting this program captures California's strong baseline nursing salaries rather than leading the pack.

The $26,331 debt load is higher than the California median of $15,625 but still manageable given the earnings—graduates could reasonably pay off loans in under four months of work. The 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio is solid, particularly for a school serving 34% Pell-eligible students. While some California community colleges deliver similar outcomes with significantly less debt, the absolute earning power here makes this a viable path into a lucrative field.

For families prioritizing immediate earning potential, this program works—you're looking at six-figure-track careers from an associate degree. But if minimizing debt is the priority, exploring California's community college nursing programs could deliver comparable first-year salaries at half the borrowing cost.