Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at CES College

CES College's nursing program presents a troubling reality for California students: earnings that lag significantly behind state alternatives. While graduates start at $42,821 and see modest growth to $48,885 by year four, these figures fall in just the 25th percentile for California nursing programs. That's nearly $10,000 below the state median and roughly $20,000 less than top performers like Unitek College or Medical Allied Career Center.

The program serves a majority low-income student body (60% receive Pell grants), and the $17,200 debt load is reasonable at 0.4 times first-year earnings. Students can realistically manage their debt payments. However, the fundamental question is whether settling for below-average California nursing wages makes sense when dozens of programs in the state deliver substantially better outcomes for similar or even lower debt. The 14% earnings growth over four years is positive but doesn't close the gap with stronger programs.

For families committed to staying in California's healthcare market, this program underperforms. Unless location in Burbank is essential or admission to higher-performing programs isn't feasible, parents should explore alternatives. The state has 122 nursing programs—many community colleges and career centers that place graduates into significantly higher-earning positions without adding substantial debt.