Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Choffin Career and Technical Center

Choffin Career and Technical Center's practical nursing program delivers below-average results for a healthcare field known for strong entry-level earnings. At $37,419, first-year earnings trail the Ohio median by nearly $6,000 and fall in the bottom quarter nationally. This gap is significant—several Ohio programs place graduates earning $48,000 to $54,000, suggesting the program may face regional market challenges or curriculum differences that affect job placement.

The $12,500 debt load is reasonable, translating to a 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio that remains manageable even with the lower starting salary. Serving a predominantly Pell-eligible student body (91%), the program provides accessible healthcare training at a controlled cost. However, when top-performing Ohio programs deliver 30-40% higher earnings for similar debt levels, the opportunity cost becomes harder to ignore.

For families weighing options, this program works best if location constraints make Youngstown necessary or if the student needs a particularly affordable entry point into nursing. Otherwise, Cincinnati State or the Fortis locations demonstrate that Ohio students can secure substantially better outcomes in practical nursing—outcomes that translate to thousands more annually right from the start.