Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Donnelly College

The estimated $8,000 debt load here stands far below what's typical for nursing associate degrees nationally—less than half the $19,404 median across similar programs. For a school where 63% of students receive Pell grants, this relatively modest borrowing matters. While we're working with national estimates rather than Donnelly's specific outcomes (small cohort sizes prevent direct reporting), the debt picture appears manageable even if actual earnings come in below the $51,744 projection drawn from comparable nursing programs nationwide.

That debt-to-earnings estimate of 0.15 suggests favorable payback conditions, assuming earnings hold close to the national median. Licensed practical nursing offers stable employment demand, and starting near $52,000 would make an $8,000 debt burden quite digestible—roughly two months' gross pay. The concern is whether Donnelly's Kansas City location and specific program structure actually deliver earnings in that range, information we simply don't have from reported data.

The calculation here hinges on verification. Before committing, contact Donnelly directly for their employment rates and actual graduate salary ranges. Ask specifically about local hiring patterns and whether their LPN graduates find work quickly in the Kansas City healthcare market. The low estimated debt reduces your downside risk considerably, but you'll want real numbers on job placement to confirm the upside actually materializes.