Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Indian River State College

Indian River State College's nursing program starts with solid first-year earnings of $60,911, but that initial success masks a troubling pattern. By year four, graduates see their income drop 20% to under $49,000—a trajectory that runs counter to most nursing careers and puts this program well below Florida's median of $64,718. While this ranks at the 40th percentile among Florida nursing programs, that's still behind roughly two-thirds of the state's offerings, including several community colleges where graduates earn $70,000+.

The bright spot here is debt: at $9,500, it's significantly lower than both the state median ($25,749) and national average ($20,751). This low debt load means the program won't saddle graduates with overwhelming payments even as their earnings decline. Still, this doesn't explain why income drops so sharply after the first year—whether it's graduates moving to part-time work, changing specialties, or facing regional wage pressures specific to the Fort Pierce area.

For families considering this program, the math isn't catastrophic given the minimal debt, but you should understand what you're getting: likely quick employment in nursing (explaining that strong first-year number), followed by earnings that fall considerably behind other Florida RN programs. If staying in the Fort Pierce region is essential, this might work. Otherwise, look at programs like Broward College or Valencia College where graduates sustain stronger earnings trajectories.