Nursing at College of the Canyons

Santa Clarita, CA · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

serving 15,365 students in Santa Clarita, CA.

Program Analysis

Graduates of College of the Canyons's Nursing program earn $97,457/yr in their first year — 40% above the $69,474 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 447.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Nursing programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Nursing's career paths, with 39% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 3% gap from the optimistic case.

At $13,000 in median debt against $97,457 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #11 of 947 Nursing programs nationally, College of the Canyons sits in the top 1% — one of the strongest programs in the country by financial outcomes.

There are 4 registered apprenticeship pathways mapped to Nursing, including Home Health Director (median $117,960/yr). Apprenticeships offer an alternative route that combines paid work with structured training.

91 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
85
Low End
91
Score
92
High End
Earnings $97,457/yr (40% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings
$97K
Reported median after graduation
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
448.5x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience
Program Tuition (In-State)
$2,352
Out-of-state: $22,464
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,000
1.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$90,233
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Nursing graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Nurse anesthetists $223,210 +8.6% 83%
Nurse practitioners $129,210 +40.1% 52%
Nurse midwives $128,790 +11.1% 61%
Nurse anesthetists
$223,210
+8.6% growth 83% AI-proof
Nurse practitioners
$129,210
+40.1% growth 52% AI-proof
Nurse midwives
$128,790
+11.1% growth 61% AI-proof

View all 6 career paths with full salary data →

Nursing Career Guide

Nursing opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Nursing Overview

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Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does College of the Canyons's Nursing program score?
This program scores 91/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Nursing nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, hands-on AI resilience, and solid financial return.
What's the AI risk for Nursing graduates from College of the Canyons?
With 39% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $1,019,616 in decade earnings vs $1,054,771 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
How affordable is Nursing at College of the Canyons?
Median debt of just $13,000 against $97,457/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Is College of the Canyons one of the best schools for Nursing?
Among 947 Nursing programs, College of the Canyons's #11 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
Are there apprenticeship options for Nursing?
There are 4 registered apprenticeships connected to Nursing occupations, such as Home Health Director and Long Term Care Nurse Management. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
How many job openings are there for Nursing graduates?
At 292,500 annual openings, Nursing has a very large employment base. College of the Canyons graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →