Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Fortis College-Salt Lake City

Fortis College's nursing program carries nearly double the typical debt burden for Utah nursing schools—$35,267 versus a state median of $17,828—while placing graduates in the middle of the pack for earnings. At 60th percentile among Utah programs, graduates start at $65,516, which beats the state median but trails more affordable options like Salt Lake Community College by just $1,300 annually.

The debt picture is particularly concerning: this program ranks in the 5th percentile nationally for debt levels, meaning 95% of nursing programs nationwide saddle students with less debt. With 61% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are already facing financial constraints, making the high borrowing especially risky. A 0.54 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic for nursing, but it's elevated when community colleges in the same city offer comparable outcomes with half the debt.

The slight earnings dip from year one to year four suggests graduates aren't seeing the wage growth typical in nursing careers, though flat earnings in a stable field isn't necessarily alarming. For families weighing this program, the central question is whether the convenience or timeline justifies borrowing twice what nearby alternatives require. Salt Lake Community College offers nearly identical outcomes at far lower cost—a difference that could mean paying off loans years earlier or having funds available for a BSN down the road.