Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Chaffey College

California's nursing programs show enormous variation in outcomes, and while Chaffey College's actual graduate data is suppressed, the estimated $53,040 first-year earnings aligned with the state median suggests decent immediate returns. What's particularly attractive here is the estimated $9,500 debt load—nearly half the state median of $17,421 and substantially below the national median of $14,803. At a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.18, graduates might clear this obligation within months rather than years, assuming these peer-program estimates hold true.

The challenge is knowing where Chaffey actually lands within California's wide range of outcomes. Top performers like Unitek College and Hartnell College report first-year earnings above $63,000, while the state median sits at $53,000. Without Chaffey's own graduate outcomes, you're essentially betting on "average"—which isn't necessarily bad for a nursing credential that should lead to immediate employment, but means you might be leaving $10,000+ in annual earnings on the table compared to stronger programs.

The low estimated debt makes this a relatively low-risk proposition if your child needs to enter the workforce quickly and affordably. But before committing, contact Chaffey directly to ask about their actual NCLEX pass rates and job placement numbers—information they should have even if the Department of Education can't publish earnings data for their small graduate cohorts.