Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at St. Thomas University

St. Thomas University's nursing program charges significantly more than typical Florida nursing schools while delivering below-average outcomes. Graduates here earn $70,805 in their first year—about $6,000 less than the Florida median for nursing programs and $4,000 below the national benchmark. That 40th percentile ranking among Florida programs is particularly notable given that nearby community colleges like Miami Dade and Valencia produce graduates earning over $90,000 annually with substantially less debt.

The debt burden tells the concerning part of the story. At $35,500, graduates here carry 53% more debt than the typical Florida nursing graduate and 31% more than the national average. While the 0.50 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't unmanageable for a nursing career, you're paying private university prices for outcomes that fall short of what Florida's public colleges deliver. Those community college alternatives not only save $12,000+ in borrowing but also lead to earnings that are $20,000 higher right out of the gate.

For Florida families, this program makes financial sense only if there are compelling non-economic reasons to choose it—perhaps transfer credit complications or geographic constraints. Otherwise, the state's public nursing programs offer a significantly better return on investment.