Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Davis Technical College

The unusually low first-year earnings here tell an important story: Davis Technical College graduates appear to be starting in entry-level nursing assistant or CNA roles before transitioning to practical nursing positions. That $26,369 starting salary lags far behind the national median of $44,134, but the dramatic 79% earnings jump to $47,162 by year four suggests most graduates successfully make this career progression. While the program ranks only in the 5th percentile nationally for initial earnings, it actually sits at the 60th percentile among Utah programs—meaning this delayed-start pattern may reflect local healthcare hiring practices rather than program quality.

The financial structure works in students' favor: at $8,048, debt runs well below both state ($11,500) and national ($14,803) medians. Even with those depressed first-year earnings, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31 remains manageable, and by year four, graduates earn enough to make this modest debt burden almost negligible.

For families willing to accept a tough first year financially, this program delivers strong results by Utah standards. The key is understanding that graduates may need to work their way up from CNA to LPN roles—which means planning for lower initial income but solid mid-term earnings potential. The minimal debt makes that transition period far less stressful than it would be with typical nursing program costs.