Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at CALC Institute of Technology

CALC Institute of Technology's nursing certificate comes with manageable debt—$9,750 is actually below the state median—but the earnings story raises questions. Similar Illinois programs produce first-year earnings around $43,000, which puts graduates near the middle of the pack statewide. However, by year four, CALC students are earning $51,291, which is solid but still lags considerably behind top performers like Ambria College ($64,712) and Verve College ($63,593). That $13,000+ annual gap adds up quickly over a career.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23 looks reasonable on paper, suggesting graduates could manage their loans on entry-level LPN wages. Yet with 81% of students receiving Pell grants, this population may have less financial cushion to absorb even modest debt while building savings. The national debt percentile being at the 83rd percentile means most comparable programs nationwide carry *more* debt, which is one clear positive here.

For an anxious parent, the calculation hinges on whether your child can land in that upper tier of Illinois LPN jobs rather than at the median. CALC's outcomes by year four suggest steady but not exceptional performance. If your child is committed to nursing and has no cheaper community college option nearby, this won't bury them in debt—but don't expect earnings that match Illinois's strongest programs.