Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Central Ohio Technical College

Central Ohio Technical College's practical nursing program gets graduates earning quickly—first-year salaries of $48,483 beat both the Ohio median ($43,207) and national median ($44,134) by meaningful margins. At 60th percentile statewide, this program outperforms most Ohio competitors, though it trails top programs like Cincinnati State by about $5,000. The debt load of $14,281 is manageable, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.29—graduates owe less than three months' salary.

The concern here is the earnings trajectory: salaries drop to $46,155 by year four, a 5% decline when most careers show growth. This pattern is common in practical nursing, where many LPNs eventually transition into RN programs or face wage compression as they gain experience. Still, even at year four, earnings remain solidly above state and national medians for this credential.

For families looking at affordable healthcare career entry points, this program works. The debt is modest, graduates start earning immediately, and the credential opens doors to the stable nursing field. Just understand you're buying career access, not a steep upward earnings curve. Many successful LPNs use this as a stepping stone while working toward an RN degree, which offers better long-term earnings potential.