Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations

The concerning pattern here isn't the starting salary—it's where graduates end up four years later. Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations students earn $45,480 initially, which beats 60% of Florida nursing programs and sits above both state and national medians. But by year four, earnings drop 15% to just $38,829, suggesting many graduates either aren't advancing in their careers or are leaving the field entirely. Compare that to Florida State College at Jacksonville, where similar program graduates earn $57,579, or even the state median of $40,922.

The debt load of $16,710 is moderate—about 37 cents for every dollar earned in the first year—but it looks less manageable when earnings decline rather than grow. In Florida, where the typical nursing program carries just $10,379 in debt, this program charges 61% more while delivering middling outcomes. Over half the students here receive Pell grants, meaning many come from lower-income backgrounds where that extra $6,000 in debt matters significantly.

For families weighing this program, the math is straightforward: you're paying above-average debt for below-average career trajectory in a state with 110 other options. Unless there are specific geographic or scheduling advantages that make this program uniquely accessible, Florida's technical colleges offer better earnings potential at lower cost.