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

Oregon's nursing assistant and practical nursing programs typically produce strong early earnings, and Central Oregon Community College appears positioned to deliver similar results. Based on comparable programs across the state, graduates here can expect first-year earnings around $55,000—well above the national median of $44,000 and in line with Oregon's higher-paying healthcare market. The estimated $13,700 in debt creates a manageable 0.25 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe roughly three months of their first-year salary.

The caveat: these figures come from peer programs in Oregon, not actual outcomes for Central Oregon CC graduates. The school's small cohort sizes mean the Department of Education can't publish specific data. Still, Oregon's nursing programs cluster fairly tightly—the four programs with reported data range from $50,600 to $58,500—suggesting the state estimate is reasonable. The estimated debt is also below Oregon's typical $16,500 for these programs.

For families in Central Oregon, this looks like a practical investment in a field with consistent demand. Healthcare hiring remains steady, and practical nurses fill essential roles across hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. The key unknown is how this specific program's job placement and clinical partnerships compare to competitors, which directly affects how quickly graduates secure those $55,000 positions.