Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at College of Marin

College of Marin's nursing program launches graduates into six-figure careers almost immediately, with first-year earnings of $98,893 that grow to $114,018 by year four. While that puts this program in the 95th percentile nationally, it's actually middle-of-the-pack for California—sitting at the 60th percentile statewide. This makes sense given California's generally high nursing wages, where even the state median for associate nursing programs is $97,457. The debt load of $22,125 translates to a manageable 0.22 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates earn roughly five times what they owe.

The real strength here is the combination of strong income growth and reasonable debt. Graduates see a 15% earnings boost from year one to year four, and they're not buried under excessive loans to get there. However, parents should note the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates reported data—which means individual outcomes could vary more than these medians suggest.

For California families, this is a solid option that delivers on nursing's promise of financial stability without extraordinary debt. You're paying less than top-tier programs like Unitek while still accessing California's robust nursing market. The program won't catapult your child to the very top of state earnings, but it provides a clear path to a comfortable living with room for growth.