Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at College of Eastern Idaho

With fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers come with a significant asterisk, but the pattern they suggest is troubling. College of Eastern Idaho's nursing assistant program shows first-year earnings of $34,787—well below both Idaho's state median of $47,807 and the national average of $44,134. That places graduates in the bottom quarter of Idaho programs, earning roughly $13,000 less than peers at North Idaho College or Carrington College-Boise. The debt load of $17,750 isn't catastrophic, but it translates to carrying half a year's salary in loans when starting earnings are already below par.

The 32% earnings growth to $45,779 by year four helps close the gap somewhat, though graduates still trail the typical Idaho LPN by about $2,000. Given the state's relatively strong market for practical nurses, underperforming the median by this margin raises questions about clinical training quality or employer connections. The small sample size means a few outliers could be skewing results either way, but parents should investigate why this program appears to lag behind readily available alternatives within Idaho.

Before committing, compare job placement rates and clinical partnership hospitals directly with programs like College of Southern Idaho or North Idaho College, where graduates consistently clear $40,000-plus in their first year with similar or lower debt loads.