Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Crafton Hills College

California's nursing market transforms what's typically a modest associate degree into a strong financial proposition. Based on comparable ADN programs across the state, graduates can expect first-year earnings around $97,000—more than 40% above the national median for nursing associates. That puts this program in line with the California average, where community college nursing grads routinely out-earn their counterparts in most other states by substantial margins.

The estimated debt of about $14,400 is also below the state median, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.15. For context, similar programs in California typically result in debt that's paid back in just a few months of work—a rare scenario in higher education. While some California programs report higher earnings (Unitek and Yuba grads start above $117,000), even at the state median, the return on this credential appears solid.

The caveat: these figures come from peer programs, not Crafton Hills itself, since the school's graduate sample is too small for the DOE to publish. If you're choosing between nursing programs, focus on factors like NCLEX pass rates and clinical placement opportunities, which will matter more for your student's actual outcomes than small differences in estimated earnings. The underlying economics of an ADN in California's nursing market, however, look fundamentally sound.