Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Delta College-Slidell Campus

Delta College-Slidell delivers strong initial outcomes but shows an unusual pattern that warrants attention. Graduates earn $48,157 in their first year—well above both the national median ($44,134) and Louisiana's median ($44,323), ranking in the 60th percentile statewide. More impressively, the debt load of $20,055 sits in just the 17th percentile nationally, meaning this program costs substantially less than most nursing assistant programs while producing better-than-average earnings. For the 71% of students here on Pell grants, that's a meaningful advantage.

The concern is what happens next: earnings slip to $45,865 by year four, a 5% decline. This could reflect several realities—some graduates may shift to part-time work, transition to other roles, or experience scheduling changes common in healthcare support positions. It's also possible some use this credential as a stepping stone to RN programs and the data captures that transition period. Still, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 means graduates typically owe less than half their first year's salary, which is manageable territory.

The practical takeaway: this program offers a relatively affordable entry point into healthcare with decent immediate earning potential, but don't expect income growth in the years that follow. If your child plans to continue education toward becoming a registered nurse, that trajectory makes sense. If they're viewing this as a long-term career endpoint, understand the earnings ceiling appears lower than the strong starting point might suggest.