Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Ambria College of Nursing

Ambria College of Nursing produces some of the highest-earning practical nursing graduates in Illinois, but there's a puzzling wrinkle in the data. With first-year earnings of $64,712, graduates from this program outperform 95% of comparable programs both nationally and statewide—earning 50% more than Illinois's median for this credential. The debt load of $11,878 is reasonable, especially given these strong initial outcomes. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift significantly with more data.

The concerning pattern is the earnings decline: graduates earn $5,938 less four years out compared to their first year. This isn't typical for nursing credentials, which usually show steady demand and earnings stability. It's unclear whether this reflects career path choices (perhaps some graduates transitioning to different roles or reducing hours), geographic factors, or simply noise from the limited sample. Among the top Illinois programs, most show more predictable patterns with larger student cohorts.

For families considering this program, the exceptional starting salary justifies the modest debt—you're looking at earnings that rival or exceed many bachelor's-level nursing programs at a fraction of the cost. But given the small cohort size and unusual earnings trajectory, verify current job placement rates and talk to recent alumni about their career paths before committing. The fundamentals look strong, but the limited data means you're working with less certainty than you'd have at larger, more established programs.