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

Similar nursing assistant programs in Florida typically produce first-year earnings around $41,000—notably below the national median of $44,000 for this credential. While that might seem modest, the estimated $10,500 in debt translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.26, meaning graduates would owe roughly three months' salary. That's manageable territory, especially for a program that can launch a healthcare career relatively quickly.

The challenge is that this represents Florida's middle tier. Top nursing programs in the state—like Florida State College at Jacksonville and several Herzing University campuses—report first-year earnings in the $47,000 to $57,000 range. That's a meaningful $6,000 to $16,000 gap that compounds over a career. For families considering Hillsborough, the question becomes whether the estimated lower debt load offsets starting at the state median rather than aiming higher.

For a certificate program serving a substantial population of Pell grant recipients (42%), the low estimated debt burden matters. If your child can complete this program efficiently and transition quickly into the workforce, the numbers work—just recognize they'll likely start in the middle of the pack among Florida nursing assistants, not at the top.