Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Blinn College District

Blinn College's practical nursing program produces graduates earning slightly above the national median but notably below the Texas average—landing at the 40th percentile among the state's 72 nursing programs. That $46,004 state median represents about $1,550 more annually than what Blinn graduates typically earn, which matters when Texas offers strong alternatives. Compare this to Alvin Community College, where graduates earn $64,976—nearly $20,000 more per year—and the opportunity cost becomes clear for families shopping in-state options.

The financial package itself is reasonable: $15,250 in debt against $44,454 in first-year earnings creates a manageable 0.34 debt-to-earnings ratio. You're looking at roughly one-third of a year's salary in student loans, which is workable for most nursing graduates. The debt level sits close to both state and national medians, so there's no alarming borrowing pattern here.

The real question is whether middle-of-the-road outcomes justify enrollment when Texas has multiple programs delivering significantly stronger earnings. For families where location or admission requirements make Blinn the practical choice, the debt burden won't be crushing. But if you have flexibility, those top-quartile Texas programs offer substantially better returns on the same career investment.