Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Alvin Community College

Alvin Community College's nursing certificate graduates earn $64,976 in their first year—nearly 50% above the national median and $19,000 more than the typical Texas program. Among 72 nursing programs across Texas, this ranks in the 80th percentile, outpacing even some of the state's top-performing programs. At just $10,215 in debt, students graduate with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.16, meaning they could theoretically pay off their loans in less than two months of gross earnings.

However, the small sample size (fewer than 30 graduates) means these results might not be typical year-to-year. Still, the fundamentals are sound: practical nursing programs typically lead to stable, in-demand work, and this program's combination of low debt and strong initial earnings matches that promise. The debt figure is notably lower than both state and national medians, likely reflecting the community college model keeping costs contained.

For Texas families weighing nursing options, this program deserves serious consideration despite the data limitations. If your child can replicate even 80% of these earnings, they'd still be clearing $52,000 annually with minimal debt—a solid foundation for a healthcare career. Just verify current placement rates and confirm these outcomes hold across recent cohorts before enrolling.