Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Glendale Career College

Glendale Career College's nursing program places graduates in the 95th percentile nationally with first-year earnings of $96,185, but this impressive figure comes with crucial context: in California's exceptionally strong nursing market, these same earnings land at just the 40th percentile statewide. The median California nursing graduate earns slightly more ($97,457) while carrying half the debt ($15,625 versus $33,049). When nearby community colleges like Yuba and Merced are producing graduates earning $110,000-$117,000 with dramatically lower debt loads, the premium pricing here becomes harder to justify.

That said, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34 remains manageable, and the $96,000+ starting salary should allow for reasonable repayment timelines. The 55% Pell grant population suggests the school serves students who may have fewer alternatives, and the robust sample size confirms these aren't outlier results. For students who gain admission to this program and have explored community college options that don't work for their timeline or situation, the outcomes aren't disastrous—you're still looking at strong absolute earnings.

The bottom line: Before committing to $33,000 in debt here, seriously investigate California's community college nursing programs. Many offer Associate's degrees with comparable or superior earning potential at a fraction of the cost. If those aren't viable for scheduling or admission reasons, Glendale can still launch a solid nursing career, just at a higher price point than necessary for most students.