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

Itawamba Community College's practical nursing program delivers middle-of-the-pack earnings at a higher-than-typical price point. Graduates earn $37,132 in their first year—about $800 below Mississippi's state median for this program and roughly $7,000 below the national benchmark. Within Mississippi, this places the program at the 40th percentile, meaning six out of ten comparable nursing programs in the state produce higher-earning graduates. The debt burden of $10,875 is actually below Mississippi's median but sits in the 74th percentile nationally, suggesting local students may be taking on reasonable debt while out-of-state students face less favorable terms.

The modest 5% earnings growth to $38,822 by year four is typical for practical nursing credentials, where early career earnings tend to plateau quickly. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 remains manageable—graduates could theoretically pay off loans within a year or two of focused repayment. However, when nearby alternatives like Mississippi Delta Community College produce graduates earning $5,700 more annually for similar or lower debt loads, the value equation becomes less compelling.

For Mississippi families, this program offers accessible entry into healthcare but falls short of what top-performing state programs deliver. If your child is admitted to Hinds, Pearl River, or Mississippi Delta's nursing programs, those would likely represent stronger financial returns on a comparable investment.