Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Florida Academy of Nursing

Nursing programs in Florida produce strong early earnings, but the estimated $41,815 debt burden here is substantially higher than what's typical. While comparable programs across the state suggest first-year earnings around $76,500—solidly in line with national medians for BSN graduates—the debt figure is concerning. Florida's median nursing debt sits at $23,261, meaning this estimate is nearly double what graduates from peer programs typically carry. Even with nursing's reliable employment prospects, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55 means over half of that first year's salary would be needed to cover the loan balance.

The institution serves a predominantly Pell-eligible population (66%), which makes the debt premium particularly significant. Community colleges and state schools across Florida are placing nursing graduates into $89,000-$95,000 jobs with far less debt. The top-performing programs show that location matters less than credential in nursing—Miami Dade and Valencia College graduates earn well above this program's estimated outcomes while accumulating less debt. Since these figures are derived from similar Florida programs rather than this specific school's graduates, families should request actual placement data and typical debt loads from the school itself before committing. The gap between estimated debt here and state norms is wide enough that it deserves direct answers about why costs run higher and whether graduates actually achieve the strong earnings nursing typically promises.