Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Southeastern University

Southeastern University's nursing program lands squarely in the middle of Florida's crowded nursing landscape, but that middle position comes with a significant price gap. While graduates earn $70,612 in their first year—about $6,000 below the state median—they're carrying debt loads roughly in line with or above state averages. More telling: Florida's community college nursing programs consistently produce graduates earning $20,000 more annually with less debt, raising serious questions about the value of this private university route.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 is manageable, meaning graduates can theoretically pay off loans within about four years of dedicated payments. However, the 40th percentile ranking among Florida programs reveals a troubling reality—you're paying private tuition rates (even with financial aid) for middle-of-the-pack outcomes in a state where public options dominate the top earners list. The moderate sample size suggests this data reflects a real pattern, not a statistical fluke.

For Florida families, this comes down to a straightforward calculation: unless Southeastern offers compelling non-financial benefits like location, schedule flexibility, or religious affiliation that matter to your family, the community college pathway delivers substantially better returns. Valencia, Miami Dade, and similar programs aren't just slightly better—they're producing graduates who earn $20,000+ more right out of the gate. That difference compounds significantly over a nursing career.