Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Seminole State College of Florida

Seminole State's nursing program starts strong with first-year earnings of $70,052—beating Florida's median for associate nursing programs by over $5,000 and ranking in the 60th percentile statewide. With debt of just $20,332, graduates enter the workforce with a manageable 0.29 debt-to-earnings ratio, well below typical concerns for healthcare programs. The initial financial picture looks solid for an associate degree path into nursing.

The complication emerges in the earnings trajectory: by year four, median pay drops to $64,227, an 8% decline that's unusual for nursing careers. This could reflect graduates moving into different roles, shifting to part-time work, or other factors that aren't captured in the data alone. Still, even with this dip, fourth-year earnings remain near Florida's overall median for nursing programs, suggesting graduates maintain viable employment even if the income path isn't linear.

For parents weighing in-state options, Seminole State sits in the middle tier of Florida's 73 nursing programs—not among the highest earners like Broward College or Valencia, but performing reasonably well with significantly lower debt than the state's $25,749 median. The program offers a practical entry point into nursing with limited financial burden, though families should understand that career advancement may require additional credentials or strategic job choices to counter the early earnings decline.