Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Erie 1 BOCES

The most striking pattern here is the earnings decline: Erie 1 BOCES graduates earn $45,021 in their first year but slip to $42,049 by year four—a 7% drop when most careers show growth. This backward trajectory is unusual for nursing credentials and warrants a closer look at what's happening. With debt of $13,700, the initial 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio starts reasonable but becomes less favorable as income shrinks rather than grows.

The program sits exactly at New York's median for first-year earnings, meaning it's a middle-of-the-pack option in a state with significant variation. Top programs in NY—like Transitions Career Institute at $66,000 or Rockland County BOCES at $60,000—show that substantially higher earnings are achievable with the same credential. That 60th percentile state ranking means more than half of similar NY programs launch graduates into higher-paying positions. The debt load is slightly below both state and national medians, which offers some cushion.

For families prioritizing immediate employment at manageable debt levels, this program checks basic boxes. However, the declining earnings pattern suggests graduates may face limited advancement opportunities or challenging work environments that don't reward experience. Before committing, investigate why earnings drop rather than rise—it could signal high turnover facilities, limited continuing education support, or regional market constraints that trap graduates in entry-level roles.