Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at ATA Career Education

ATA Career Education sits squarely in the middle of Florida's practical nursing landscape—graduates earn slightly more than the state median ($50,873 vs. $40,922 by year four) and substantially more than the program's starting salary would suggest. That 22% earnings jump from year one to year four indicates graduates are finding their footing and advancing in the field, which matters when nearly all students here are Pell grant recipients investing borrowed money into career change.

The challenge is debt. At $28,849, students here are borrowing nearly three times what's typical for practical nursing programs in Florida ($10,379 median). While the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 is manageable—meaning graduates should be able to handle payments—it's significantly higher than what students pay at comparable programs. Florida State College at Jacksonville, for instance, produces nurses earning $57,579 with likely lower debt loads given its public status.

For a family weighing this option, the question is whether the convenience and accessibility of ATA justifies the premium. The program does deliver working nurses who see real income growth, and it clearly serves students who need flexible pathways into healthcare. But Florida has over 100 practical nursing programs, including several technical colleges that combine lower costs with solid outcomes. Shop around—particularly at public institutions—before committing to this debt level for a practical nursing certificate.