Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at College of Saint Mary

College of Saint Mary's practical nursing program charges slightly above the Nebraska median ($15,489 vs. the state average) while delivering graduates who earn about $3,400 less than typical Nebraska nursing assistants and LPNs. Nationally, these outcomes place in the 21st percentile—meaning roughly four out of five comparable programs produce stronger first-year earnings. Even staying in-state, Southeast Community College Area graduates earn nearly $7,000 more annually right out of the gate.

The debt burden itself isn't catastrophic at 43% of first-year earnings, and graduates should be able to manage payments on a nursing assistant's salary. However, the core issue is getting less earning power than you'd find at most alternatives. In Nebraska's small nursing certificate market (just 8 programs), landing at the median for both cost and outcomes when better options exist nearby raises questions about value.

With fewer than 30 graduates in this dataset, these numbers could shift year to year. But for parents weighing options, the pattern suggests looking hard at community college alternatives first. If your child is already committed to Saint Mary for other reasons—perhaps the faith-based environment or smaller class sizes—this certificate won't bury them in debt. Just recognize you're likely paying a premium for outcomes that lag behind what's available at less selective schools nearby.