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

This program sits at a troubling intersection: it costs less than average but delivers earnings that rank in the bottom 5% nationally for practical nursing certificates. That $29,376 starting salary is barely half of what practical nursing graduates typically earn nationwide ($44,134). The state picture reveals why—Arizona's practical nursing market appears depressed compared to the rest of the country, with this program performing at the state median despite being near the national floor.

The comparison to other Arizona schools is particularly telling. GateWay Community College and East Valley Institute of Technology produce graduates earning over $50,000—more than double what Brookline's students make. Even Pima Community College, another accessible option, yields $47,000. The modest $9,500 debt load means graduates aren't drowning in payments, but they're also entering one of the least remunerative nursing pathways in the state despite identical job market access.

For parents of students serious about nursing, this represents a lost opportunity. Arizona clearly has practical nursing programs that open doors to substantially better wages. Unless geographic constraints make Brookline the only viable option, your child would likely benefit from exploring community college alternatives that cost similarly but lead to earnings 60-100% higher within the same field.