Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Florida Career College-Miami

Nursing graduates from Florida Career College-Miami face a troubling combination: their first-year earnings of $42,793 fall well below what most Florida nursing programs deliver—ranking in just the 10th percentile statewide—while carrying above-average debt of $36,339. Compare this to nearby Broward College or Valencia College, where nursing graduates earn $70,000+ with significantly less debt. That $20,000+ annual earnings gap doesn't close over time; even four years out, graduates here earn $54,348 versus the state median of $64,718.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.85 means nearly a full year's salary goes toward paying off loans—uncomfortably high for a field where Florida programs typically place graduates in stronger financial positions from day one. With 74% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are already financially stretched, making this earnings deficit particularly consequential.

For a profession with clear earning standards across Florida, starting $22,000 below the state median isn't a minor difference—it's a structural disadvantage that persists. Unless there are compelling geographic or scheduling reasons no other nursing program works, Florida's community colleges and other private institutions consistently deliver better outcomes for similar or lower cost.