Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Saint Johns River State College

Saint Johns River State College's nursing program shows the kind of earnings trajectory that deserves closer scrutiny. Graduates start at $64,829—slightly above Florida's median for associate nursing programs—but see their earnings drop to $56,945 by year four. That 12% decline runs counter to what you'd expect from a growing healthcare field, suggesting graduates may be starting in higher-paying acute care settings before moving to different roles or working reduced hours.

The financial picture starts with a manageable debt load of $20,113, well below Florida's typical $25,749 for nursing programs. That creates a reasonable 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio in year one. However, that 60th percentile ranking among Florida programs matters: this school performs better than average within the state, but top programs like Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations or Herzing University-Orlando show graduates can earn $8,000-$9,000 more annually. Given Florida's competitive nursing education landscape with 73 programs to choose from, that gap represents real money over a career.

For families prioritizing lower debt over maximum earnings, this program offers a viable path into nursing. But if your student is willing to consider other Florida schools—particularly those community colleges in the $70,000+ range—they could potentially earn significantly more without substantially higher debt loads.