Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Garden City Community College

For nursing assistant training, Garden City Community College's $14,338 in debt sits right in the middle of what Kansas students typically borrow for this credential—almost identical to both the state and national medians. Based on comparable programs across Kansas, graduates can expect first-year earnings around $43,321, which creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33. That means the typical borrower would owe roughly four months of gross income, a reasonable burden for a credential that provides immediate entry into healthcare work.

The limited data here reflects the program's smaller size, not a red flag about outcomes. What we can see from peer programs suggests Garden City performs in line with most Kansas community colleges offering this training, though some competitors like Donnelly and Kansas City Kansas Community College report higher earnings for their graduates—around $49,000. The difference matters: an extra $6,000 annually could help students pay down debt faster or build financial cushion in those critical early career years.

For families seeking affordable healthcare training, this program offers a workable path—debt levels won't be crushing, and the estimated earnings align with state norms. But if your student has access to transportation and can consider programs in larger Kansas metros, comparing actual outcomes at schools with reported data might reveal better earning potential for similar upfront costs.