Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Mount Saint Mary's University

Mount Saint Mary's nursing graduates start surprisingly low at $65K but jump nearly 50% to $95K by year four—strong growth, but that starting point matters. In California's nursing market, where the typical associate degree holder earns $97K right away, beginning at the 10th percentile statewide is a significant disadvantage. You're looking at roughly $30,000 less in first-year earnings compared to the California median, which compounds over those early career years even as growth accelerates.

The $23,333 in debt is manageable relative to that first job, but the real cost is opportunity—what your child could be earning elsewhere. Community colleges across California routinely place nursing graduates into $100K+ starting positions with less debt. The 47% earnings growth suggests Mount Saint Mary's graduates do find their footing, but they're playing catch-up in a state where other programs launch careers at higher altitudes from day one.

For a private university charging private tuition, these outcomes don't compete well with California's community college nursing programs. Unless there are compelling non-financial reasons to choose Mount Saint Mary's—perhaps scheduling flexibility or specific program features—your child would likely achieve better financial results at a public institution in the state's nursing system.