Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Front Range Community College

The first-year earnings at Front Range Community College look worrying at just $29,021—roughly $15,000 below Colorado's median for this program and in the bottom 5% nationally. But this program follows an unusual trajectory that parents need to understand: graduates appear to start in lower-paying assistant or aide roles before advancing. By year four, median earnings jump to $52,467, an 81% increase that brings graduates slightly above the state median and represents genuine career progression.

While this growth pattern is encouraging, it creates a tough financial reality in those early years. Even with relatively modest debt of $13,107, new graduates will likely need supplemental income or financial support during that initial low-wage period. Other Colorado programs—like Otero College or Morgan Community College—deliver much stronger starting salaries without requiring this delayed payoff. Front Range ranks in just the 25th percentile among Colorado nursing programs, meaning three-quarters of alternatives produce better outcomes.

The manageable debt load is this program's saving grace, but families should plan for at least two years of below-average earnings before the investment begins paying dividends. If your child can afford the slow start financially, the year-four numbers suggest a viable nursing career. But if immediate earning power matters—whether for loan repayment or family obligations—stronger Colorado alternatives exist at similar price points.