Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Brookline College-Phoenix

This program's earnings lag far behind the national nursing assistant median of $44,000, but here's the critical detail: it actually matches Arizona's state median exactly, and ranks in the 60th percentile among Arizona programs. That state context matters because many stronger nursing programs cluster outside the Phoenix area, and Arizona's healthcare wages run lower than many states. Still, graduates are earning roughly half what they'd make at nearby GateWay Community College.

The modest $9,500 debt load is the program's strongest feature—it's well below the national median and makes this affordable even at these earnings levels. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32, graduates should be able to manage payments, though it will feel tight on $29,000 annually. The concerning part is the slight earnings decline by year four, suggesting limited advancement opportunities or burnout issues common in entry-level nursing roles.

For families considering this program, understand you're getting affordable access to nursing credentials but not a strong earnings trajectory. If your child can commute to GateWay Community College instead, that program delivers double the earnings for similar debt. This makes sense primarily for students who need evening classes or have scheduling constraints that rule out community colleges—otherwise, the opportunity cost is simply too steep.