Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at St Petersburg College

St. Petersburg College's nursing program delivers strong first-year earnings of $80,787—about $8,000 above the national median and $4,000 above Florida's state median for nursing programs. But that initial success doesn't last: earnings drop to $75,584 by year four, falling below the state median while sister institutions like Valencia and Miami Dade maintain salaries above $90,000. This erosion pattern suggests graduates may be limited to staff nursing positions rather than advancing into higher-paid specialties or leadership roles that typically emerge mid-career.

The debt picture offers some consolation. At $23,261—matching Florida's state median but well below the national average—graduates aren't saddled with the crushing debt loads seen at private programs. The 0.29 debt-to-earnings ratio means your child would start earning roughly four times their debt, allowing for manageable repayment even as earnings plateau. With 33% of students receiving Pell grants, SPC clearly serves working families seeking an accessible path to nursing.

The fundamental question is whether you're comfortable with a program that gets your child earning quickly but doesn't position them for the same mid-career growth other Florida nursing programs deliver. If the goal is stable employment with modest debt, this works. If you're hoping nursing will become a path to six-figure earnings within a few years, the top-performing Florida community colleges show what's possible—and what SPC isn't quite achieving.