At $29,106/yr net price, North-West College-Riverside graduates earn $39,876/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $5,876/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $29,106 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $116,424 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $39,876/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$5,876/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 19.8 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 66.3% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $9,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $28,395/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $28,760/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $29,843/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $31,034/yr |
| $110,001+ | $32,108/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. | Certificate | $34,625 | $18,482 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Certificate | $29,478 | $19,511 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Certificate | $24,366 | $9,500 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Certificate | $21,789 | $9,500 |
| Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services. | Certificate | $18,087 |
The Risk Factor
66.3% of students at North-West College-Riverside graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 34% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
North-West College-Riverside asks you to pay about $29,000 a year for a two-year certificate, and the median graduate earns just under $40,000 a decade later. That gap is the core problem. You spend roughly $58,000 over two years to reach earnings that many entry-level healthcare jobs offer without this price tag.
Every program here is a certificate, not a degree. The best-paying one, practical and vocational nursing, gets you to about $34,600 a year but leaves you with around $18,500 in debt, nearly double the school's median. Allied health diagnostic work pays similarly and carries similar debt. From there it drops fast: medical administrative services and medical assisting land near $22,000-$24,000, and somatic bodywork sits at about $18,000, below what many full-time hourly jobs pay. If you enroll for bodywork or medical assisting, the math does not work.
The specific risk here is that your credential is narrow and your earnings ceiling is low, while the price is high for a for-profit two-year school. The 66% graduation rate means one in three of you leaves without finishing, still owing money. The debt is manageable only because these are short programs, not because the outcomes are good.
The net price barely moves with income. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about $28,400. if over $110,000, about $32,100. Lower-income families get almost no break here, so the sticker cost hits hardest if you can least afford it.
This school fits you only if you want the nursing certificate specifically, plan to finish, and cannot access a cheaper community college nursing program. For any other path, a California community college offers similar or better healthcare credentials at a fraction of the cost. Look there first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North-West College-Riverside worth the cost?
With a net price of $29,106 per year and median earnings of $39,876 ten years after graduation, North-West College-Riverside offers modest returns. The low median debt of $9,500 reduces financial risk, but earnings potential varies significantly by program.
What are the highest paying programs at North-West College-Riverside?
Practical Nursing leads with median earnings of $34,625, followed by Allied Health Diagnostic programs at $29,478. Healthcare administration and medical assisting programs earn considerably less at $24,366 and $21,789 respectively.
How much debt do North-West College-Riverside graduates typically have?
The median debt is $9,500, which is relatively low compared to many colleges. However, with a 66% graduation rate, one-third of students don't complete their programs and may still carry debt without credentials.
Do North-West College-Riverside graduates get good jobs after graduation?
Job outcomes depend heavily on your program choice. Nursing graduates can expect decent career prospects, while students in lower-paying programs like bodywork therapy may struggle to justify the cost with median earnings of just $18,087.