Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Pacific College of Health and Science

California's nursing market offers exceptional earning potential, and comparable programs in the state suggest Pacific College graduates could see around $100,000 in first-year earnings—well above the national median of $75,000. The challenge here is the estimated $38,000 in debt, which runs significantly higher than the state median of $25,000 for nursing bachelor's programs. While the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 remains manageable by conventional standards, your child would be taking on roughly 50% more debt than peers at other California nursing schools to enter the same job market.

The gap matters because nursing salaries in California, while strong, don't vary dramatically by school—top programs in the state report earnings between $119,000 and $126,000, suggesting the career trajectory depends more on the license and local demand than the institution name. With 37% of Pacific College students receiving Pell grants, many families here are financing their education through loans, making that above-average debt load a real consideration for monthly budgets after graduation.

The bottom line: if your child can graduate with debt closer to the state median, this program should pay for itself reasonably quickly given California's nursing wages. But at the estimated $38,000 level, you'd want clarity on why costs run higher and whether there are ways to reduce borrowing—particularly since the professional outcome will likely mirror what less expensive programs produce.