Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at San Diego Miramar College

California's nursing market is uniquely strong, and that shows in the estimated figures for this program. Based on comparable ADN programs across the state, graduates typically earn around $97,000 in their first year—nearly $30,000 above the national median for associate-degree nursing programs. The estimated debt of $14,400 is also well below typical nursing school borrowing nationwide, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.15. That means the typical loan could theoretically be paid off in less than two months of gross earnings.

The challenge here is uncertainty. Because San Diego Miramar's nursing program has too few graduates to report actual outcomes, these estimates are drawn from the state's median performance across 57 programs. California's nursing programs show wide variation—the top performers produce first-year earnings exceeding $110,000, while others presumably fall well below the median. Without knowing where this specific program lands in that distribution, you're making a bet based on California's overall nursing strength rather than this school's track record.

For families who need to minimize debt and can't afford to take chances, the low estimated borrowing is reassuring. But if you're choosing between nursing programs in California, look for schools with reported outcomes that show they're placing graduates in the state's better-paying entry-level positions.