Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Community College of Rhode Island

The estimated $18,000 debt load for this two-year nursing program sits below the national median, while projected first-year earnings of around $52,000 mirror what similar programs produce nationwide. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35, graduates would need roughly four months of gross pay to cover what they borrowed—a manageable figure that suggests the financial fundamentals work for most students. Given that 43% of students here receive Pell grants, the relatively contained debt is particularly meaningful for families without significant savings.

Rhode Island only has one school reporting data for this credential type, which limits direct local comparisons. However, nursing programs tend to produce consistent outcomes because licensing requirements and healthcare labor markets create standardized career pathways. The estimated $52,000 starting point reflects what LPNs and nursing assistants typically earn, though advancement to RN positions—which many use this degree as a stepping stone toward—would substantially improve long-term earnings potential.

The key consideration: these figures come from peer programs nationally, not CCRI's actual graduates, so there's inherent uncertainty about how this specific program performs. For families where a two-year investment makes sense financially and the student is committed to nursing, the projected debt load relative to starting salary suggests reasonable value—but understand you're making this decision with less program-specific information than you'd ideally want.