Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at James A. Rhodes State College

James A. Rhodes State College's practical nursing program produces graduates earning slightly below both state and national medians—ranking in the 40th percentile among Ohio's 77 LPN programs. At $41,545 in first-year earnings, graduates trail the state median by about $1,700 and fall notably short of top Ohio programs like Cincinnati State ($53,908) or Fortis College locations (nearly $50,000). The minimal earnings growth to year four suggests graduates quickly reach their ceiling in this field.

The program's strongest feature is its manageable debt load. At $18,464, it sits below both state and national medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44—meaning graduates owe less than half their first-year salary. This is significantly better than many comparable programs and allows for reasonable repayment timelines. The relatively low Pell Grant percentage (15%) suggests the student body may have additional financial resources, though this could also indicate limited access for lower-income students.

For families focused strictly on return-on-investment, Rhodes State delivers adequate but unexceptional results. The debt is reasonable, but graduates earn $10,000+ less annually than peers at Ohio's strongest LPN programs. If your child can access one of the higher-performing programs within commuting distance, that extra earning power compounds significantly over a career. Rhodes State works as a local, affordable option for LPN training, but it won't position graduates at the top of the regional job market.