Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Central Carolina Community College

Central Carolina Community College's practical nursing program costs less than most—$13,500 in debt versus a state median of $14,161—but graduates earn about $5,000 less annually than the typical North Carolina LPN. That 40th percentile ranking among NC's 48 nursing programs means students here are trailing peers at schools like Isothermal Community College (where first-year earnings top $51,000) by roughly $6,400. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 looks manageable on paper, but the trajectory matters.

The backwards slide from $44,904 to $41,297 between years one and four is the real concern. LPN salaries don't typically shrink—this pattern suggests graduates may be working reduced hours, changing employment settings, or leaving the field earlier than expected. Unlike programs where early career positions naturally transition into higher-paying roles, this decline means the already-modest starting salary represents the peak earning window.

For families prioritizing minimal debt, this program delivers on that front. But if your child could access one of the stronger-performing community college nursing programs elsewhere in North Carolina—particularly those in the top quartile—the earnings difference would pay back the slightly higher debt within months. This is a credential that will get someone working as an LPN, but not one that positions them particularly well within North Carolina's nursing landscape.