Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Glendale Career College

Glendale Career College's nursing certificate graduates earn $59,140 in their first year—crushing the national median by 34% and ranking in the 95th percentile nationally. That's impressive, though within California's competitive nursing landscape, it lands at the 60th percentile, behind programs like Unitek College ($66,221) but solidly above the state median of $53,040. The $18,075 debt load is reasonable, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.31.

The concerning element here is the earnings trajectory: graduates see their median income drop to $49,453 by year four, a 16% decline that's unusual for healthcare fields. This could reflect part-time work transitions, career changes, or workforce patterns specific to LVNs in the Glendale area. Even with this dip, the four-year earnings still exceed national benchmarks.

For families considering this program, the first-year numbers make a strong case—graduates enter a high-demand field with manageable debt and earnings that quickly outpace what they owe. The declining earnings pattern deserves a conversation with current students or program advisors about typical career paths, but it doesn't erase the fundamental value: you're training for steady healthcare employment in roughly one year, with debt you can reasonably handle even if earnings moderate.