Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Hillsborough Community College

Hillsborough Community College's nursing program solves the biggest challenge for Florida nursing students: keeping debt manageable. With graduates owing just $17,063—about $8,700 less than the state median—this program offers one of the cleanest financial pictures among Florida's 73 nursing schools. Starting salaries of $64,429 translate to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26, meaning graduates can realistically pay off loans within a year or two of full-time work.

The tradeoff is straightforward. While HCC graduates earn slightly below Florida's median and lag top-performing programs like Valencia ($70,422) or Broward College ($72,991) by around $6,000-$9,000 annually, they also avoid the debt burden that often accompanies those higher earnings. Modest 4% earnings growth to $66,863 by year four suggests this program positions students for solid but not exceptional career trajectories in Tampa's healthcare market.

For families prioritizing debt avoidance—particularly relevant given 42% of students receive Pell grants—this represents a practical path into nursing. The income floor is high enough to support yourself immediately after graduation, and you're not mortgaging future flexibility with heavy loans. If your student can commute from home and wants the RN credential without financial stress, HCC delivers that. Just understand they'll likely earn less than peers from the state's top-performing community college programs.