Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Belmont College

Based on comparable Ohio programs, Belmont College's practical nursing certificate appears positioned right at the state median for earnings—around $43,200 in the first year—but debt projections run notably below the state typical figure of $16,364. That $14,820 estimated debt load translates to a manageable 0.34 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates could theoretically dedicate about a third of their first year's income to clearing their loans.

The catch? Several Ohio schools place their graduates substantially higher on the earnings ladder. Cincinnati State and multiple Fortis locations report outcomes near $50,000, creating a roughly $7,000 annual gap. For a credential that peer programs suggest takes similar investment, that difference compounds quickly over a nursing career. The question becomes whether Belmont's potentially lower debt offsets starting several thousand dollars behind, especially when nationally the field clusters tightly around $44,000 regardless of location.

For families evaluating this option, the estimates suggest solid fundamentals—nursing assistant and LPN roles offer stable employment, and the debt-to-income picture beats many allied health programs. But with 77 programs across Ohio producing widely varied outcomes, it's worth directly asking Belmont about their graduates' actual placement rates and starting employers. The schools reporting stronger earnings aren't necessarily more expensive; they may simply have better clinical partnerships or serve higher-paying metro markets.