Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Century College

Minnesota's practical nursing programs carry higher debt loads than most states, and Century College appears to follow this pattern. Based on comparable programs across Minnesota, graduates here likely face around $18,600 in debt—well above the $14,803 national median—while earning roughly $42,900 in their first year. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 means you're looking at nearly half a year's salary in student loans, which is manageable but not ideal for an entry-level healthcare credential.

The earnings estimate sits right at Minnesota's median for LPN programs, but that's actually concerning when you look at the top performers in the state. Dakota County Technical College's graduates report nearly $49,000 in first-year earnings—$6,000 more than what similar programs to Century suggest. That gap matters significantly when you're carrying nearly $19,000 in debt. The question isn't whether Century can train your child to become a licensed practical nurse (it almost certainly can), but whether it offers the same return on investment as other Minnesota programs that appear to produce stronger early earnings.

For a healthcare certificate where income typically plateaus quickly, starting salary makes an outsized difference in your ability to pay down debt. If Century College offers location advantages or scheduling flexibility that other programs can't match, it may still be worth considering. But if you have access to programs like Dakota County Tech or Lake Superior College, those appear to offer a clearer path to financial stability post-graduation.