Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Concorde Career Institute-Jacksonville

The sharp earnings drop from $46,513 to $28,380 between years one and four demands explanation—this 39% decline is the opposite of what nursing careers typically deliver. While first-year earnings land at the 60th percentile both nationally and among Florida's 110 nursing programs, something changes dramatically for these graduates after that initial success. Given the moderate sample size, it's possible we're seeing graduates shift to part-time work, leave the field, or face other employment disruptions that wouldn't show up in the data alone.

The $30,663 in debt compounds the concern. That's triple Florida's median for this program and double the national average, putting it in the worst 5% nationally for student debt. Even with that strong first-year salary, graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66—manageable initially, but increasingly burdensome as earnings fall. Compare this to Florida State College at Jacksonville, where similar graduates earn $57,579, or even the state median of $40,922, and the value proposition weakens considerably.

For a family considering this program, the numbers suggest looking elsewhere. Jacksonville has better options even within the same city, and the combination of high debt with declining earnings creates financial risk that other Florida programs don't carry. The 96% admission rate and 71% Pell Grant population suggest Concorde serves students who may have limited alternatives, but those same students particularly need programs that protect their investment.