Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at South Florida State College

South Florida State College's nursing program delivers a strong value proposition that many Florida families overlook. While earnings start slightly below the national median at $65,691, graduates land above the middle of the pack among Florida's 73 nursing programs (60th percentile) while carrying just $10,500 in debt—less than half what most Florida nursing students owe. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.16 means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in about two months of gross pay, giving them financial flexibility that peers at pricier programs won't have for years.

The earnings trajectory here looks solid, climbing 7% to $70,340 by year four, which nearly matches the national median. For a community college serving a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (44%), these outcomes represent real economic mobility. Yes, the top-earning nursing programs in Florida pay $3,000-8,000 more annually, but they also typically charge significantly more in tuition. The gap narrows by year four anyway.

The main caveat is the small sample size—fewer than 30 recent graduates in the dataset—so individual outcomes could vary more than at larger programs. But for families prioritizing affordability while still achieving solid middle-class earnings, this program accomplishes exactly that. Your child would enter nursing with minimal debt and competitive Florida wages, which matters more than chasing the highest starting salary.