Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Fortis Institute-Scranton

Fortis Institute-Scranton's nursing assistant program presents a puzzling trajectory: graduates earn $51,603 in their first year—solidly middle-of-the-pack nationally but ranking in the 60th percentile among Pennsylvania programs—only to see earnings drop 14% to $44,505 by year four. This decline is unusual in healthcare fields and raises questions about whether graduates are shifting to part-time work, changing employers, or facing limited advancement opportunities in this role.

The financial picture starts more favorably than it ends. At $26,749, the debt burden sits well below what most comparable programs charge (18th percentile nationally), making the 0.52 debt-to-earnings ratio manageable in year one. However, as earnings decline, that same debt becomes harder to service. With 80% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are already financially stretched and particularly vulnerable to income drops after graduation.

For parents, the core question is sustainability: will your child remain in this career track, or use it as a stepping stone to become an RN? If the former, understand that earnings may actually decrease rather than grow—an uncommon and concerning pattern. If the latter, this program offers a relatively affordable entry point into nursing, but you'll need to budget for additional education down the line. The initial salary provides solid financial footing, but don't count on it improving without further credentials.