Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Flint Hills Technical College

Flint Hills Technical College's nursing assistant program sits in the bottom quartile both nationally and within Kansas, where graduates earn about $8,000 less annually than the state median of $43,321. Starting at $34,930, these graduates make roughly $10,000 less than typical program completers nationwide, and they trail notably behind Kansas alternatives like Donnelly College ($49,147) and Kansas City Kansas Community College ($48,862) just a couple hours away.

The silver lining is that earnings grow 20% over four years to $41,733, and the debt load of $13,600 is manageable—graduates owe less than half their first-year income. Still, even after four years, earnings remain below where graduates from most peer programs start. For a field with relatively consistent job duties across institutions, these earnings gaps suggest either differences in clinical preparation, employer networks, or job placement support that put Flint Hills graduates at a disadvantage.

For parents, the question is straightforward: why pay similar tuition for demonstrably weaker outcomes? Unless location in Emporia is non-negotiable, Kansas offers multiple nursing assistant programs with stronger track records. The debt won't sink your child's finances, but starting $10,000 behind peers in a field where income is already modest matters significantly for long-term financial security.