Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Dorsey College-Woodhaven

This Dorsey College-Woodhaven nursing program presents a concerning earnings trajectory that should give parents pause. While graduates start with respectable earnings of $41,283—close to both state and national medians—their income plummets 35% to just $26,833 by year four. This dramatic decline is highly unusual for healthcare programs and suggests graduates may struggle to advance or maintain higher-paying positions.

The debt picture is actually favorable, with graduates borrowing $19,941 compared to the national median of $14,803. However, this reasonable debt load becomes problematic when paired with declining earnings. Among Michigan's 43 nursing programs, this ranks in just the 40th percentile for earnings, while top programs like Schoolcraft ($75,104) and Gogebic ($62,799) produce graduates earning nearly triple what Dorsey students make by year four.

The institution serves a predominantly low-income student population (82% receive Pell grants), but that doesn't excuse poor outcomes. For families investing in nursing education, this program appears to be a poor choice when stronger alternatives exist throughout Michigan. Parents should seriously consider community colleges or other institutions with proven track records of producing graduates who see earnings growth rather than dramatic declines over time.