Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Isabella Graham Hart School of Practical Nursing

Isabella Graham Hart graduates earn about $40,000 annually—roughly $5,000 below New York's median for practical nursing programs and $4,000 under the national benchmark. With 49 nursing programs across New York, this one lands at the 40th percentile statewide, meaning six out of ten alternatives produce better outcomes. The contrast with top-performing New York programs is particularly stark: graduates from places like Transitions Career Institute or AMG School of Nursing earn 60% more doing essentially the same work.

The debt picture offers some consolation. At $18,794, it's higher than both state and national medians but still manageable relative to earnings—you're looking at roughly half a year's salary. For a program serving primarily Pell-eligible students (65% of enrollment), that matters. The larger concern is the earnings trajectory: four years out, graduates are making virtually the same salary they started with, suggesting limited advancement opportunities or wage growth in the positions these graduates secure.

For families specifically committed to Rochester, understand you're accepting below-average earnings in exchange for accessible admission and reasonable debt levels. But if location is flexible, exploring higher-ranked New York programs could mean an extra $15,000-20,000 annually—a difference that compounds significantly over a career. The question isn't whether this program works; it's whether it works as well as available alternatives.