Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Santa Fe College

Santa Fe College's nursing program offers a practical path into healthcare, but the earnings trajectory tells an unusual story. Graduates start strong at $68,611—above Florida's median and right at the national average—but see incomes drop to $62,717 by year four. This 9% decline is atypical for nursing, where earnings usually climb as experience accumulates. The pattern suggests many graduates may be working part-time or switching to different roles after their initial nursing positions.

The financial fundamentals are solid: $17,025 in debt is well below both the Florida median ($25,749) and national average, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.25. At 60th percentile among Florida nursing programs, this places Santa Fe in the upper half of state options—a meaningful advantage when most students will pursue in-state opportunities for tuition reasons. The program serves a diverse student body with 28% receiving Pell grants, successfully launching lower-income students into middle-class careers.

For families prioritizing low debt and reliable entry into nursing, this program delivers. Just recognize that the strong first-year salary may not represent the long-term earning potential, and investigate why graduates' incomes decline rather than grow. If your child plans to work full-time in clinical nursing throughout their career, ask the college about alumni outcomes and whether the earnings drop reflects career transitions or reduced hours.