Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Moorpark College

Moorpark's nursing program launches graduates into six-figure salaries immediately—$105,599 in year one beats 95% of nursing programs nationally. However, this exceptional start comes with an unusual wrinkle: earnings actually drop to $94,020 by year four. While both figures exceed California's nursing median of $97,457, this backward trajectory deserves scrutiny given the small graduating class size (under 30 students), which makes the data less reliable than larger programs.

The debt picture looks reasonable at first glance—$17,075 represents just 16% of first-year earnings, well below concerning thresholds. But zoom out to California's landscape and the positioning becomes clearer: this program sits at the 60th percentile statewide, meaning 40% of California nursing programs deliver even stronger outcomes. Schools like Yuba College and Merced College show their graduates earning $110,000-plus while maintaining similar or lower debt loads.

For parents considering this program, the immediate earning power is genuine, but the earnings dip and small sample size create uncertainty about whether these outcomes are consistent year-over-year. If your child can access one of California's higher-performing programs—particularly those in the top quartile—that might offer more predictable results. If Moorpark is the local option and keeps costs down through community college tuition, the strong starting salary still provides decent runway even with the curious earnings pattern.