Also, it may be best for them to come at buying a house from a stronger financial position. 

Why not go w/ someone else who was stronger candidate and not using FHA... 

There are a few 5 - 20 units in the low to mid 1M's that I think would be interesting possibilities if we could come up with the down payment or negotiate with the sellers on terms and add value for a stronger equity position.

If you plan on being in the workforce for 30 more years, the IRR on that investment is pretty substantial, assuming of course that you successfully make the transition and land that high paying job.In my experience, people who complete those 1 year programs really weren't all that much stronger than regular workers. 

Sure there could eventually be a decrease in home prices if rates increase, but that will certainly be felt stronger in expensive markets - much less so for reasonable markets.

So even if you pick a state with stronger protections like WY or NV, the cause of action arose in the state where the tenant fell, so likely that the court where the accident happened would have jurisdiction.California tends to have more laws on the books and requirements and restrictions that it can be a good idea to form a CA LLC for in-state property or even out of state property so that you as a CA resident are covered, and to try to have your contracts fall under the purview of CA courts.

If this is the case, do I have a stronger case to evict him?

One thing I'd say with that, though, is that there *are* some markets that are much stronger in that regard (and some markets that have some great deals regardless) that aren't too terribly far away, if you're willing to invest a little out of the way.

Lesson learned for you but you’re even stronger now.

I'm only 20 years old, so I could wait a little longer and make my financial position a little stronger first.