Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

Georgia's nursing assistant and practical nursing programs typically launch graduates into immediate employment, but Abraham Baldwin's estimated outcomes lag behind what peer programs deliver. Based on comparable programs in the state, first-year earnings around $42,000 come with roughly $13,200 in debt—a manageable 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio that students could theoretically repay within months. The trouble is what happens next: by year four, earnings actually drop to $37,000, suggesting graduates may be hitting a ceiling or leaving the field altogether.

This downward trajectory stands in stark contrast to Georgia's technical colleges, where reported outcomes for similar programs show first-year earnings between $45,000 and $51,000. Augusta Technical College's LPNs earn $51,000 in their first year—$9,000 more than Abraham Baldwin's estimated figure. That gap matters when you're working demanding healthcare shifts and managing student loans.

For parents weighing this program, the debt load itself isn't prohibitive, but the declining earnings pattern is a red flag. If your child chooses this path, they should have a clear plan for what comes after the initial credential—whether that's bridging to an RN program or specializing in a higher-paying healthcare niche. Without that next step, these estimates suggest a career that stalls rather than builds.