Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health

Los Angeles County College of Nursing launches graduates into $89,536 first-year salaries—30% above the national median for associate nursing programs. That's the good news. The challenge? In California's competitive nursing market, this sits in just the 40th percentile, with graduates earning roughly $8,000 less than the state median and well below top programs like Unitek College ($120,006) or nearby community colleges like Yuba and Merced.

The debt picture helps offset this earnings gap. At $19,224, graduates leave with manageable loans—especially considering they'll earn over four times that amount in their first year. The 0.21 debt-to-earnings ratio means most graduates can realistically pay off loans quickly, even if they're not hitting the salary peaks available elsewhere in California. This matters particularly given that 36% of students receive Pell grants.

For families weighing options, this program offers solid entry into nursing without the debt burden of some alternatives. You're trading top-tier California earnings for accessibility and reasonable debt. If your child plans to stay in Los Angeles where cost of living is high, compare total costs carefully against higher-earning programs. But if the goal is simply becoming a working RN with minimal debt, this delivers that foundation reliably.