Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at University of North Florida

University of North Florida nursing graduates start strong at $76,508—matching the state median and beating the national average—but face an unusual earnings drop to $63,648 by year four. This isn't typical in nursing, where salaries generally climb with experience. The decline may reflect graduates moving into lower-paying specialties, leaving the workforce temporarily, or other career path choices that reduce short-term earnings. Among Florida's 72 nursing programs, UNF lands squarely in the middle at the 60th percentile, while community colleges like Valencia and Miami Dade produce graduates earning $90,000+.

The financial picture has one clear advantage: graduates leave with just $18,750 in debt, significantly below Florida's median of $23,261 and well under the national benchmark. That 0.25 debt-to-earnings ratio means even if you hit the lower four-year earnings mark, you're looking at manageable repayment. With 100+ graduates in the data set, these numbers are reliable indicators of actual outcomes.

For families prioritizing low debt over maximum earnings potential, UNF delivers reasonable value—you're getting RN credentials without crushing loans. But if income growth matters most, Florida's community college nursing programs are producing notably higher earners at comparable or lower debt levels. That's worth serious consideration before committing to a four-year university path.