Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Los Angeles Trade Technical College

California's robust nursing job market is evident in this program's estimated outcomes. Based on comparable associate's degree nursing programs across the state, first-year earnings typically hit $97,457—dramatically higher than the $68,409 national median for similar programs. That $14,833 debt load translates to just 15% of first-year earnings, a ratio that should make financing this degree manageable even with California's high cost of living.

The catch: These figures are derived from 57 peer programs statewide, not actual outcomes for LA Trade Tech's specific cohort. The school's small graduate sample means the Department of Education can't publish verified data. While California nursing programs generally perform well—several community colleges report six-figure first-year salaries—there's no way to confirm where this particular program falls within that range. The debt figure sits near the state median of $15,625 but above the national benchmark of $20,751.

For an associate's degree that typically takes two years, debt under $15,000 is reasonable if those California nursing salary estimates hold true. But given the uncertainty, your best move is contacting the school's nursing department directly for their NCLEX pass rates and job placement data—hard outcomes that reveal program quality regardless of salary variations.