Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Florence-Darlington Technical College

Similar nursing programs across South Carolina typically produce first-year earnings around $47,500 while saddling graduates with $22,500 in debt—nearly 50% higher than the national median debt for this credential. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47, meaning nearly half of a first year's salary goes toward what students borrowed. For a vocational certificate that should offer relatively quick entry into the workforce, this debt load deserves scrutiny, especially when peer programs in other states often report debt closer to $14,800 nationally.

The earnings picture based on comparable SC programs sits just above the national median of $44,100, which is reasonable for practical nursing. However, top-performing technical colleges in the state like York Tech and Orangeburg Calhoun are placing graduates into jobs paying $51,000-$54,000—suggesting that not all LPN programs produce equal outcomes. With 45% of Florence-Darlington students receiving Pell grants, the higher debt burden could hit lower-income families particularly hard.

The practical concern: borrowing $22,500 for a credential that peer programs suggest will earn you $47,500 means tight financial margins in those crucial first years. Before committing, compare actual costs at this specific campus against nearby alternatives—sometimes driving a bit farther for training can mean significantly less debt for essentially the same job prospects.