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

Howard Community College's practical nursing program produces graduates earning $58,704 in their first year—impressive enough to land in the 95th percentile nationally, but what matters more for Maryland families is the local context. At the 60th percentile statewide, these earnings are solid but not exceptional for Maryland, where nursing assistants and LPNs generally command higher wages than in most states. Only one school in the state (Wor-Wic) posts notably higher earnings, while this program comfortably outperforms most Maryland competitors.

The financial equation works well here. At $23,608 in debt—just 40% of first-year earnings—graduates can realistically manage their loans while building a nursing career. This debt load sits above the state median but remains far below the national average for the program. For context, Maryland nursing programs typically carry higher debt than the national norm, making Howard's ratio fairly typical for the state rather than unusually burdensome.

One important caveat: the small sample size means these numbers could shift significantly year to year. That said, the combination of near-$60K starting earnings and manageable debt makes this a practical path into healthcare for Maryland students, particularly those who need to start earning quickly. It's not the absolute top performer in the state, but it delivers strong value without the debt problems that plague many vocational programs.