Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at University of California-Los Angeles

UCLA's nursing program crushes the national average by $20,000, placing it in the 95th percentile nationwide—but here's the catch: California's nursing market is so strong that this same program lands at just the 40th percentile statewide. With median earnings of $94,611 first year out, UCLA nursing grads earn about $6,000 less than the typical California nursing graduate and trail schools like Sonoma State and CSU East Bay by $30,000 or more. The debt picture is reasonable at $20,800 (below the state median), but not exceptional given the institution's selectivity and prestige.

What explains this gap? UCLA's 9% admission rate suggests many graduates could have chosen multiple paths—some may pursue advanced degrees immediately, work in lower-paying research or academic settings, or take positions in prestigious but moderately-paid hospital systems. The 12% earnings growth to $106K by year four is solid and suggests trajectories stabilize, but several Cal State programs deliver higher starting salaries with comparable or lower debt loads.

If your child is drawn to UCLA's brand and research opportunities, this program won't derail their finances—the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22 is excellent. However, if maximizing early nursing income is the priority, particularly important for students from families without financial cushion (only 27% here receive Pell grants), California's CSU system delivers stronger immediate returns for this specific degree.