Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Lake-Sumter State College

Lake-Sumter State's nursing program sits at an interesting crossroads: earnings that fall well below the national average but land squarely in the middle for Florida, paired with impressively low debt. While the $59,920 first-year salary trails the national median by nearly $9,000, it's right around Florida's median—and graduates leave with just $14,750 in debt, less than half of what nursing students typically owe at other Florida schools. That 0.25 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans with roughly one quarter of their first year's salary, a far better position than at many competing programs.

The modest 8% earnings growth to $64,630 by year four suggests typical progression for associate-degree nursing roles, though top Florida programs like Broward College and Valencia place graduates earning $8,000-$13,000 more. However, when you compare the total financial package—lower debt with reasonable earnings—Lake-Sumter graduates face less financial pressure early in their careers than peers who borrowed twice as much to earn only marginally more.

The critical caveat: this data comes from a very small graduating class, so individual outcomes may vary considerably. For families prioritizing minimal debt and a reliable path into nursing, this program delivers on affordability. Those seeking maximum earning potential might look to the state's higher-performing programs, but they'll pay significantly more for that edge.