Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Chester Career College

Chester Career College's practical nursing program carries nearly double the typical debt load for this field—$26,119 versus a state median of just $16,182—while delivering below-average earnings. Graduates earn $42,781 in their first year, placing them in the 40th percentile among Virginia's 37 nursing programs. That's roughly $2,000 less than the state median and substantially below top performers like Piedmont Virginia Community College, where graduates earn $61,566.

The debt burden stands out as the central concern. At 61% of first-year earnings, it's manageable but steep for a certificate program, especially given that practical nursing programs typically carry much lighter debt. Earnings do grow 23% to $52,516 by year four, which helps, but that growth trajectory still leaves graduates trailing peers who started with similar credentials and less debt elsewhere in Virginia.

For families considering this program, the cost structure deserves careful scrutiny. With 57% of students receiving Pell grants, many attendees are taking on significant debt relative to their likely family resources. Unless Chester offers unique scheduling flexibility or location advantages that matter significantly to your child, Virginia has multiple practical nursing programs that deliver comparable or better earnings with roughly $10,000 less debt—a meaningful difference on an LPN's salary.