Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Hagerstown Community College

Hagerstown Community College's practical nursing program produces graduates who earn slightly above the national median but fall behind other Maryland programs—a gap that matters when you're competing for jobs in the same state market. At $45,584 first-year, graduates earn $5,800 less than the typical Maryland practical nurse, placing this program in just the 40th percentile statewide. Nearby alternatives like Howard Community College and Community College of Baltimore County both deliver substantially higher earnings outcomes.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $19,211, graduates borrow less than the Maryland median and considerably less than the national average for these programs. That 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio means borrowers face manageable repayment, likely less than $200 monthly on standard plans. The moderate sample size suggests consistent outcomes across cohorts.

For Maryland families, this program represents a functional entry into healthcare but not an optimized one. If your child can access Howard or Baltimore County instead—both community colleges with similar costs—the $7,000-13,000 earnings premium would compound significantly over a career. If location or logistics make Hagerstown the most practical choice, the program still delivers positive returns with reasonable debt. Just recognize you're trading some earning potential for convenience.