Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at University of Florida-Online

Despite being from a respected university, University of Florida-Online's nursing program underperforms both state and national benchmarks while saddling students with unusually high debt. Graduates earn $73,711 initially—below Florida's median of $76,508 and the national average of $74,888. More concerning, earnings actually decline to $68,854 by year four, putting this program in the bottom 40% statewide for graduate outcomes.

The debt picture is particularly troubling. At $19,934, student loans fall in the 89th percentile nationally, meaning 89% of similar programs nationwide require less borrowing. This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27, which while manageable, becomes less attractive when earnings decrease over time rather than grow. Florida's community colleges and other state institutions consistently produce nursing graduates who out-earn UF-Online students by $15,000-20,000 annually while requiring similar or lower debt loads.

For parents considering this program, the numbers suggest paying more for the UF brand doesn't translate to better career outcomes in nursing. Florida's community colleges like Valencia and Miami Dade deliver significantly stronger earning potential at likely lower cost. Unless your child specifically needs the online format or UF's research opportunities, the state's other nursing programs offer better returns on investment.