Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Emily Griffith Technical College

Emily Griffith Technical College's nursing assistant program falls below both state and national benchmarks, with first-year earnings of $37,744 trailing Colorado's median by $2,400 and the national median by $6,400. At 40th percentile statewide, this means more than half of Colorado's nursing assistant programs deliver better outcomes—including several that nearly double these earnings, like Otero College at $74,405 and Morgan Community College at $64,066.

The debt burden of $13,267 is reasonable at 0.35 times first-year income, meaning graduates could theoretically pay it off in about four months of gross earnings. However, the fundamental issue isn't whether the debt is manageable—it's whether students are getting competitive preparation for the job market. The low Pell grant participation (just 7%) suggests this program may not be reaching students who need the most affordable pathway to healthcare careers.

For families considering this program, the question is straightforward: why choose a 40th percentile outcome when stronger options exist throughout Colorado? Unless location in Denver is essential and these other programs aren't accessible, prospective students should investigate what makes top performers like Otero or Morgan Community more successful at launching nursing assistant careers with substantially higher earnings.