Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Concorde Career College-Portland

Concorde Career College-Portland produces LPN graduates earning nearly $58,000 their first year—well above the national median of $44,000 and ranking in the 95th percentile nationally. That's impressive performance for a vocational nursing program. However, the $22,689 in debt is about $6,000 more than Oregon's median for these programs, and earnings are essentially flat between years one and four.

Within Oregon's nursing landscape, the picture is more nuanced. While Concorde ranks 60th percentile statewide—solidly middle-of-the-pack—its graduates earn nearly identical amounts to those from Institute of Technology, the state's top earner, but carry about $4,000 more debt. Lane Community College graduates earn $7,400 less annually while likely paying far less than Concorde's price tag. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 remains manageable, meaning graduates could realistically pay off loans within a few years on an LPN salary.

The lack of earnings growth is worth noting but not unusual for LPN roles, where compensation tends to plateau early. For families willing to pay premium prices for accelerated training and strong job placement, Concorde delivers competitive outcomes. But cost-conscious families should compare carefully against community college alternatives that might offer similar career prospects at lower debt levels.