Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at CUNY LaGuardia Community College

LaGuardia Community College produces some of the best-earning practical nursing graduates nationally—hitting the 95th percentile—but the small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means a few high earners could be skewing the picture. That said, $56,230 straight out of the gate is roughly $12,000 above New York's median for this program and substantially higher than the national benchmark. The debt load of $12,256 translates to a comfortable 0.22 ratio, meaning graduates owe about 2.6 months of first-year salary—manageable by any standard.

What's puzzling is the near-flat earnings trajectory: just $500 growth over four years suggests graduates may be hitting a ceiling quickly or leaving the field. The 60th percentile ranking within New York tells the real story—several other programs place graduates into higher-earning positions, and those top programs show it's possible to earn $60,000+ in this market. Still, for a community college serving a substantial Pell-eligible population, LaGuardia delivers solid immediate outcomes with minimal debt burden.

The combination of low debt and strong starting salary makes this program worth considering, especially if staying in New York City aligns with your family's plans. Just recognize that the small cohort size means these numbers might shift considerably year to year, and career advancement may require additional credentials down the line.