Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at National University

National University's nursing program delivers strong earnings that put it in the 95th percentile nationally, with graduates earning nearly $100,000 right after graduation—$25,000 above the national average. However, the California context tells a different story: these earnings rank only in the 40th percentile among California nursing programs, falling just short of the state median of $100,588. With top California programs producing graduates earning $120,000+, National University sits in the middle tier of a high-performing state.

The debt picture is more concerning. At $37,375, graduates carry significantly more debt than both national ($27,000) and California ($25,000) medians, though the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 remains reasonable. More troubling is the slight earnings decline from year 1 to year 4, suggesting limited salary growth potential compared to other programs where nurses typically see increases.

For California families, this represents decent value but not exceptional performance within the state's nursing landscape. You're paying premium tuition for middle-of-the-pack California outcomes, though these still translate to strong national results. If staying in California is the plan, exploring higher-ranked state programs that offer better earnings potential with lower debt loads would be worth considering before committing to National University's premium price point.