At $29,378/yr net price, Nightingale College graduates earn $27,126/yr within 10 years of enrollment.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $29,378 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $117,512 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $27,126/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | $-6,874/yr |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 45.0% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $25,250 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $27,579/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $29,096/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $30,610/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $31,740/yr |
| $110,001+ | $32,149/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $52,011 | $20,000 |
The Risk Factor
45.0% of students at Nightingale College graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Nightingale College's numbers point to a weak financial return. You pay about $29,378 a year, but the median graduate earns just $27,126 ten years out. That means a decade after enrolling, the typical graduate makes less in a year than a single year of attendance cost. For a private for-profit school focused on nursing, that gap is hard to justify on financial grounds alone.
The completion risk is real. Fewer than half of students graduate, and only about 57% come back after their first year. If you leave without finishing, you still carry the debt without the credential that pays it off, and roughly four in ten students who start here don't reach year two. Median debt sits at $25,250, which is manageable only if you graduate and land solid nursing wages, since no program-level earnings data is listed here to confirm you will.
The net price barely moves by income. Whether your family earns under $30k or over $110k, you pay between roughly $27,600 and $32,100. Lower-income families get almost no discount, so if you're coming from a household under $30k, you're still looking at nearly $27,600 a year with little cushion. That flat pricing hits the families least able to absorb it hardest.
This school makes financial sense only if you're confident you'll finish and work as a licensed nurse in a market that pays well enough to clear the debt fast. If you're unsure about completing, or you can access a lower-cost public nursing program, the math here works against you. The combination of high net price, low reported earnings, sub-50% graduation, and no income-based price relief makes this a risky bet for most budgets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nightingale College worth the cost for nursing students?
Nightingale College nursing graduates earn around $52,000 annually, which makes the $29,378 yearly cost reasonable for nursing programs. However, the 45% graduation rate means many students don't finish and still carry debt.
What is the return on investment for Nightingale College graduates?
Overall graduate earnings average just $27,126 ten years after enrollment, well below the $29,378 annual cost. The ROI is poor except for nursing programs, which pay significantly better at $52,000.
How much debt do Nightingale College students typically graduate with?
Students graduate with a median debt of $25,250. Given the low overall earnings of $27,126 for most programs, this debt burden creates financial stress for non-nursing graduates.
Should I attend Nightingale College if I'm not studying nursing?
No, avoid Nightingale College for non-nursing programs. With graduates earning only $27,126 on average and a 45% graduation rate, the financial risk is too high for programs outside nursing.