Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Florida Career College-Margate

Among Florida's 110 practical nursing programs, Florida Career College-Margate lands in the bottom tenth percentile for earnings—a serious red flag. Graduates earn just $22,247 one year out, roughly half the state median of $40,922 and less than a third of what top Florida programs deliver. Even more concerning, earnings actually decline to $21,476 by year four, suggesting these graduates struggle to advance or maintain full-time employment in their field.

The debt picture offers little consolation. While $9,861 is below the state median, it's still substantial relative to these wages—nearly half a year's income. Compare this to Florida State College at Jacksonville, where graduates earn $57,579 (2.6 times more) with similar training. The 69% Pell grant rate indicates this program primarily serves lower-income students who can least afford a credential that underperforms the market so dramatically.

With robust data from 100+ graduates, these aren't statistical quirks—they reflect consistent outcomes. For families considering practical nursing in Florida, this program represents poor value when dozens of alternatives deliver double the earning power for comparable or even lower debt. Before enrolling, look at community colleges and technical schools like Pinellas Technical College, which achieves dramatically better placement and wages for students entering the same profession.