Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Gavilan College

Drawing from outcomes at similar California nursing programs, Gavilan's associate degree path suggests first-year earnings around $56,700—right at the state median but well below what graduates from Unitek ($72,368) or Butte College ($65,467) are achieving. That's a roughly $9,000 difference annually compared to top-performing programs in the state, which adds up significantly over a nursing career. The estimated debt load of $18,241 is actually lower than both California's typical $20,297 and the national median, putting the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.32.

The challenge here isn't affordability—it's the earnings ceiling. While peer programs across California consistently show this credential leading to solid middle-income jobs, there's notable variation in outcomes depending on where you train and potentially where you work afterward. Location matters tremendously in California nursing, where urban markets and specialized facilities pay substantially more than rural or entry-level positions.

For families in the Gilroy area seeking an accessible path into healthcare, this represents a reasonable-cost entry point with debt that shouldn't overwhelm starting salaries. However, if higher earnings are the priority and your student can access the stronger-performing programs listed above—either through relocation or commuting—that investment of time and effort could yield $10,000+ more annually right out of the gate.