Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Hodges University

Nursing programs in Florida typically deliver strong earnings right out of the gate, and the estimated $76,500 first-year salary for Hodges' bachelor's degree aligns with the state median. That figure, drawn from comparable Florida nursing programs, would translate to manageable debt service if the program lives up to its peer benchmarks. The estimated $31,000 in debt—roughly $8,000 above the state median for nursing degrees—creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41, meaning graduates would owe about 40 cents for every dollar earned in year one.

The challenge is context. Florida's top-performing nursing programs—including community colleges like Valencia and Miami Dade—show graduates earning $90,000 to $96,000 in their first year, significantly outpacing the state median. Those programs demonstrate what's achievable for Florida nursing grads, though they may have different admission standards or clinical placement networks. For Hodges, the estimated debt load sits at the higher end while the earnings track to the middle of the pack among Florida programs.

The bottom line: if Hodges delivers outcomes consistent with similar Florida nursing programs, a debt load under $35,000 paired with mid-$70,000s earnings would be workable, especially given nursing's strong job market in Florida. But parents should press the school for actual placement rates and starting salary data from recent graduates before committing, particularly when other programs in the state appear to produce notably stronger early-career outcomes.