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

The stark drop-off in earnings from $40,922 after one year to $20,792 after four years demands attention. While both figures are estimates—the first-year number drawn from Florida's 60 similar programs and the four-year figure from actual but suppressed graduate data—this pattern runs counter to what families expect from healthcare training. Most nursing programs show steady income growth; a 50% decline suggests graduates may be leaving the field, working reduced hours, or facing employment barriers that aren't immediately visible in the numbers.

Based on comparable programs across Florida, the estimated $9,861 in debt sits below both the state and national medians for this credential, which offers some cushion. The first-year debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.24 would typically signal reasonable affordability. But that calculation becomes meaningless if the income trajectory doesn't hold. Top-performing LPN programs in Florida—like Florida State College at Jacksonville at $57,579—demonstrate that substantially higher earnings are possible in this field, raising questions about what differentiates Concorde's outcomes.

For parents, the practical concern is simple: even if first-year earnings match expectations, something appears to disrupt career progression for these graduates. Before committing, you need to understand why four-year earnings collapse and whether that pattern reflects temporary setbacks or systemic barriers. The debt is manageable only if the income proves sustainable.