Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at University of San Francisco

With first-year earnings of $101,731, University of San Francisco's nursing program places graduates well above the national average ($74,888) and competitive with California's strong nursing market. While the program ranks in the 95th percentile nationally, it sits at the 60th percentile among California programs—still solid performance in a state known for high nursing salaries. The $27,000 debt load creates a manageable 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates earn nearly four times their debt in their first year alone.

The 25% earnings growth over four years is encouraging, with salaries reaching $127,245 by year four. However, several California State University programs and other institutions produce graduates earning $119,000-$125,000 initially, suggesting USF may not offer the best value despite its strong outcomes. The program does benefit from San Francisco's high-paying healthcare market, though living costs in the Bay Area will offset some of that salary advantage.

For families prioritizing nursing education, this program delivers strong employment prospects with reasonable debt. The robust sample size of 100+ graduates provides confidence in these figures. However, given that several less expensive California programs achieve similar or better initial earnings, cost-conscious families should compare total program costs carefully before committing to USF's private school tuition.