Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Clatsop Community College

Clatsop Community College's practical nursing program shows estimated debt below $14,000—substantially less than the typical Oregon program at $16,500—paired with first-year earnings around $55,000 based on comparable programs statewide. That 0.25 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates could reasonably pay off their loans within three to four months of working, which is about as clean a financial picture as you'll find in vocational healthcare training.

The earnings estimate places this program right at Oregon's median for practical nursing, though it's worth noting the state's top performers push closer to $58,000. Still, even at the midpoint, Oregon LPNs earn roughly $11,000 more than the national median for this credential—a significant premium that reflects the state's healthcare labor market. With 38% of Clatsop students receiving Pell grants, this appears to be a viable pathway for families without substantial college savings.

The catch is that all these figures come from peer institutions since Clatsop's graduate cohort is too small for federal reporting. You're making this decision with less certainty than you'd have at larger programs with actual outcomes data. But the fundamentals—low debt, strong regional wages for LPNs, and a one-year timeline to credential—point toward a solid investment if your student is committed to bedside nursing care.