Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Cass Career Center

Cass Career Center graduates earn $50,718 in their first year—roughly $7,000 above both Missouri and national medians for practical nursing programs. Among Missouri's 33 LPN programs, that 60th percentile ranking means you're doing better than average, though not reaching the top tier (North Central Missouri College leads at nearly $60,000). The bigger question is what happens next.

Earnings dip to $47,062 by year four, a 7% decline that's unusual in nursing where demand typically keeps wages stable or rising. This could reflect the small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked), career changes, or local labor market dynamics in the Kansas City metro area. The $12,064 debt load translates to a manageable 0.24 ratio against first-year earnings—you're looking at roughly three months of income to cover the certificate cost, which is reasonable for healthcare training.

For families focused on immediate earning potential with minimal debt, this program delivers. The first-year salary provides a solid foundation, and the debt burden won't drag down your household budget. Just understand that the earnings trajectory appears flat-to-declining rather than the upward climb you might expect, though the limited data makes it hard to know if that pattern is real or statistical noise.