Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at South University-Savannah

South University-Savannah's nursing certificate presents a relatively accessible pathway into a profession with consistent demand. With estimated debt of $25,881—just slightly above the national median for these programs—and first-year earnings around $66,400 based on peer programs nationally, graduates would face a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39. That means roughly five months of gross income to cover the total debt, which is reasonable for a healthcare credential. The high Pell grant percentage (72%) suggests the program serves students who need affordable access to nursing careers.

The caveat here is that these figures are drawn entirely from national comparisons—both earnings and debt are estimated because this specific program's graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to publish. Similar nursing certificate programs nationally produce these outcomes, but South University-Savannah's actual results could differ. Healthcare employment in Savannah and the broader Georgia coastal region is strong, which should support earnings, but private institution costs can vary significantly from national patterns.

For parents, the key question is whether this certificate leads to the same RN licensure and job prospects as traditional associate degree programs, which often cost less at community colleges. If this program provides equivalent credentials and your student needs the flexibility or accelerated timeline South University offers, the estimated debt load appears workable. Confirm the actual cost and verify that graduates can sit for the NCLEX exam—without that, the credential has limited value regardless of what peer programs suggest.