Nursing at Santa Fe College

Gainesville, FL · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

enrolling 11,133 students in Gainesville, FL.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $68,611 track close to the $69,474 national median for Nursing programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 153.3x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 39% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Nursing graduates.

At $12,000 in median debt against $68,611 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #133 out of 947 programs, Santa Fe College's Nursing program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth is modest: $68,611 to $77,392 over five years (13% gain). This trade may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

Nursing connects to 4 apprenticeship options. The earn-while-you-learn model can be a strong alternative or complement to a certificate program.

88 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
82
Low End
88
Score
89
High End
Earnings $68,611/yr (-1% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$789K
3.1% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
153.8x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$5,126
Out-of-state: $18,378
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,000
2.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$77,392
13% growth from Year 1

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

From day-one roles to senior positions, Nursing careers span a range of specializations. Read the complete outlook for graduates entering healthcare.

Read the full Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Nursing Overview

Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Santa Fe College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Santa Fe College's Nursing program score?
At 88/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
How vulnerable is Nursing to AI automation?
AI exposure of 39% is a real factor. For Santa Fe College specifically, the gap between optimistic ($788,600) and pessimistic ($717,823) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.
How affordable is Nursing at Santa Fe College?
Median debt of just $12,000 against $68,611/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.
What makes Santa Fe College's Nursing program stand out?
Ranked #133 of 947 programs nationally, Santa Fe College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Can I learn Nursing through an apprenticeship instead of Santa Fe College?
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.
Will Nursing graduates from Santa Fe College find jobs?
The career paths mapped to Nursing have roughly 292,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →