Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Amarillo College

Amarillo College's nursing assistant program falls consistently below typical outcomes—both graduates earn roughly $4,000 less annually than the Texas median and about $2,000 below national benchmarks. At the 40th percentile statewide, this means six out of ten similar Texas programs produce better earnings. The gap is substantial when you consider top performers: Alvin Community College graduates earn $65,000 within a year, more than 50% above Amarillo's outcomes.

The $14,250 debt load is reasonable and manageable given the low debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34, meaning graduates owe about four months' salary. The program also shows steady 14% earnings growth to nearly $48,000 by year four, suggesting decent career progression. For students who need to stay in the Amarillo area or who prioritize proximity over maximizing earnings, this provides an affordable entry into healthcare work.

However, the consistent underperformance compared to state peers is hard to ignore. Several community colleges across Texas—including Angelina and multiple Concorde campuses—produce significantly stronger outcomes with similar debt levels. If your child has flexibility in location, spending time researching higher-ranked Texas programs could translate to $10,000+ in additional annual income from day one, a meaningful difference that compounds over a career.