Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Carrington College-Sacramento

Carrington College-Sacramento's nursing program launches graduates into earnings that crush national standards but tell a concerning California story. That $60,778 first-year salary lands in the 95th percentile nationally—extraordinary for a vocational nursing certificate—yet only reaches the 60th percentile among California's 122 programs. Translation: this program performs well by national standards but sits squarely in the middle tier for the state, with several California peers delivering $5,000-6,000 more annually.

The debt picture starts reasonably at $17,375 (close to both state and national medians), but the earnings trajectory raises questions. While most healthcare programs show wage growth, graduates here see their income drop 6% to $56,809 by year four. This isn't necessarily alarming—many LVNs work per-diem schedules for flexibility—but it does mean the strong initial salary may not represent the long-term norm. With 56% of students receiving Pell grants, the program serves working-class Californians seeking healthcare careers, and the 0.29 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable.

For California families, this is a solid but not exceptional option. The program delivers legitimate entry into nursing with reasonable debt, but parents should compare carefully against higher-performing California programs. If location or timing makes Carrington the practical choice, the numbers work—just don't expect wage progression typical of other healthcare credentials.