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

Cuesta College's nursing program produces graduates earning $99,000 straight out of school—crushing the national average by $30,000 and landing in the 95th percentile nationally. That's exceptional performance, especially for an associate degree program. The $18,958 in median debt is reasonable and gets paid down quickly with these earnings, giving you a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.19.

Here's the California context that matters: while these numbers look stellar nationally, they're actually closer to typical for nursing programs in this state. At the 60th percentile among California nursing schools, Cuesta sits solidly in the middle of the pack—respectable, but not among the top performers like Unitek or Yuba. The earnings dip to $91,653 by year four suggests these graduates might be settling into stable positions rather than climbing aggressively, which is common in nursing but worth noting when compared to peers who maintain six-figure earnings.

The major caveat is sample size—with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could shift significantly year to year. Still, even accounting for volatility, the fundamentals work: low debt, strong immediate earnings, and outcomes that compete well within California's robust nursing market. For families prioritizing affordability and local career opportunities, this delivers solid value without the premium pricing of private programs.