Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Unitek College

Unitek College's nursing program in Fremont stands out in California's crowded field, delivering first-year earnings of $72,368—roughly $15,700 above the state median and higher than any of the top five programs listed. By year four, graduates earn $99,091, a 37% jump that suggests strong career momentum in the Bay Area healthcare market. This places the program in the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile statewide, impressive performance in a state with 56 competing programs.

The $22,848 debt load sits just above state and national medians, but the 0.32 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates earn more than three times their debt in their first year alone. With 42% of students receiving Pell grants, this program appears to deliver genuine economic mobility for working-class students entering nursing. The Bay Area's high cost of living certainly inflates these earnings figures, but even accounting for regional expenses, the debt burden remains manageable given the rapid earnings growth.

For parents considering this program, the numbers tell a clear story: Unitek's graduates out-earn peers at other California nursing programs from day one, with particularly strong four-year outcomes. The robust sample size (100+ graduates) gives confidence these results aren't a statistical fluke. Unless your child has admission offers from significantly cheaper in-state public options with comparable placement records, this represents solid value in a high-demand healthcare field.