Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at ATA College-Cincinnati

ATA College-Cincinnati's practical nursing program saddles students with nearly double the typical debt while delivering below-average earnings. At $28,849, graduates carry 95% more debt than the Ohio median for this field, while their first-year earnings of $41,553 fall below both state and national benchmarks. This is an expensive path into a profession where other Ohio schools—including Cincinnati State Technical, just across town—produce stronger outcomes with less financial burden.

The 22% earnings growth to year four helps, bringing graduates to $50,873, but even this improved figure lags behind what Cincinnati State grads earn in their first year. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 isn't catastrophic for a healthcare field with steady employment, but it's concerning when combined with the high Pell grant population (84%). These students, already facing financial challenges, are taking on outsized debt for credentials that peers at community colleges earn for significantly less.

For families considering this program, the math is straightforward: Cincinnati State delivers $53,908 first-year earnings—$12,000 more annually—and likely at lower cost as a public institution. Unless ATA offers compelling scheduling flexibility or accelerated completion that justifies the premium, directing your student toward better-performing public alternatives makes more financial sense.