Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College

Malcolm X College's practical nursing program delivers one clear advantage: graduates leave with minimal debt of $9,500, well below both the state median ($9,625) and national average ($14,803). With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26, graduates can realistically pay off their loans within months rather than years. For a family watching every dollar, this affordability matters.

The tradeoff is earnings. First-year graduates earn $36,493—about $6,500 less than the Illinois median and nearly $8,000 below the national benchmark. Among Illinois's 56 nursing programs, this ranks in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of comparable programs deliver better earning outcomes. The state's top programs produce graduates earning $55,000 to $65,000, nearly double what Malcolm X graduates make initially.

This creates a practical calculation for families: is saving roughly $15,000 in debt (compared to the national median) worth accepting $6,500 less in annual earnings? For students who need an affordable entry point into healthcare and can't risk substantial debt, this program provides exactly that. For those who could handle moderate debt and want stronger earning potential, Illinois offers considerably better-performing options at community colleges like Illinois Central or Illinois Eastern, where graduates earn in the mid-$50,000s while maintaining reasonable debt levels.