Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Chattanooga State Community College

Chattanooga State's practical nursing certificate sits in the middle of Tennessee's pack—not the bargain you might hope for from a community college. At $36,350 in first-year earnings, graduates start nearly $3,000 below the state median and almost $8,000 behind the state's best programs. That 40th percentile ranking among Tennessee schools means more than half of nursing programs in the state deliver better early outcomes, often from technical colleges that cost less and place graduates faster into higher-paying roles.

The debt picture offers modest relief. At $11,875, it's about $2,400 above the Tennessee median but still manageable—you'd need roughly four months of gross income to cover it. The 24% earnings growth to $45,058 by year four helps close some of the gap, though graduates still trail their peers. With a small sample size here, these figures could shift as more data comes in, but the pattern suggests competent training without the competitive edge that top Tennessee programs provide.

For families weighing options, this program works as a functional entry point to nursing, but it's worth comparing closely with nearby TCAT programs that consistently produce higher earners at similar or lower cost. The degree gets you licensed and working, just not with the same financial momentum as alternatives within an hour's drive.