Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas

Cossatot's nursing program shows first-year earnings of $62,501—impressively above both the state median ($55,202) and the national median ($51,744) for associate-level nursing programs. Based on debt patterns at similar community colleges nationally, graduates likely carry around $18,241 in loans, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio that suggests the credential pays for itself relatively quickly. With 35% of students receiving Pell grants, this program appears to be doing exactly what community college nursing tracks should: providing accessible healthcare training with solid immediate returns.

The concern here is the unusual earnings trajectory. While most healthcare credentials show stable or growing income, this program's graduates see median earnings drop to $45,298 by year four—a 27% decline that's hard to explain through typical nursing career patterns. This could reflect anything from graduates moving into lower-paying specialties to sample quirks in tracking outcomes across different cohorts. It's worth noting that even with this decline, year-four earnings still sit near the national baseline for practical nursing programs.

For families weighing this option, the first-year outcomes look genuinely strong and the estimated debt burden appears reasonable. The later earnings drop raises questions that prospective students should explore directly with the program—ask about typical career paths and whether most graduates stay in acute care versus transitioning to other healthcare roles. The immediate financial picture supports enrollment, but understanding why earnings decline would help set realistic long-term expectations.