Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Dorsey College

This Dorsey College nursing program presents a concerning financial picture that should give parents pause. While graduates start with reasonable first-year earnings of $41,283, their income actually drops 35% by year four to just $26,833—an alarming trend that runs counter to typical career progression. Among Michigan's 43 nursing programs, this ranks in only the 40th percentile for earnings, meaning 60% of comparable programs produce better outcomes.

The debt situation offers the program's only bright spot. At $19,941, graduates carry relatively manageable debt that's well below both national and state medians, ranking in the favorable 17th percentile nationally. However, even this advantage can't offset the earnings decline. When top Michigan programs like Schoolcraft ($75,104) and Gogebic ($62,799) produce nearly double or triple the long-term earnings, the opportunity cost becomes stark.

The "early peak" earnings pattern suggests graduates may face limited advancement opportunities or workforce challenges that constrain long-term earning potential. With 61% of students receiving Pell grants, many families are already financially stretched. Parents should seriously consider directing their child toward higher-performing nursing programs in Michigan, where the combination of better career trajectories and similar debt loads would provide substantially better returns on their educational investment.