Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Carl Sandburg College

The estimated $9,440 in debt here looks manageable, especially when stacked against typical nursing assistant programs nationally that burden graduates with $14,803. When paired with first-year earnings around $43,000—the state median for this field—you're looking at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under three months of gross income.

But the ceiling matters here. By year four, earnings climb to roughly $50,000, which sits near the national 75th percentile for this credential. That suggests limited upward mobility—you're essentially reaching the field's pay cap quickly. Meanwhile, comparable Illinois programs like Illinois Central College and Illinois Eastern show graduates earning $55,000 to $56,000, a meaningful $6,000-$7,000 annual premium. The top performers in the state crack $60,000, though it's unclear whether that reflects program quality, regional demand, or something else entirely.

For families where a four-year degree isn't realistic or desirable, this path offers quick entry to healthcare work without crushing debt. The 43% Pell Grant population suggests the program serves students who need affordable credentials. Just recognize you're buying practical job training, not a high-earning career trajectory—and that similar programs across Illinois show considerable variation in graduate outcomes that these estimates can't capture.