Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts

Gurnick Academy's nursing program places graduates in immediate six-figure territory with remarkably low debt—a ratio of just 0.27 means you'd owe roughly three months' salary. But here's the catch: while these numbers crush national averages (95th percentile), they're only middle-of-the-pack for California, where the median nursing graduate earns even more at $97,457. You're paying about $10,000 more in debt than typical California nursing students for earnings that fall $4,000 short of the state median.

That context matters because California's nursing market is simply exceptional—even "average" here means earning significantly more than top programs in most other states. Gurnick gets you into this lucrative market efficiently, and the debt load is manageable enough that you'd likely pay it off within a year or two of working. The program serves a substantial number of Pell-eligible students (44%), suggesting it's accessible to families without significant college savings.

The practical takeaway: this is a solid path into one of the highest-paying associate degree fields in the country, with debt you can realistically handle. Just know that if maximizing earnings is the priority, several California community colleges deliver similar or better outcomes with half the debt. The value here is good, but not exceptional by California nursing standards.