Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Jefferson Lewis BOCES-Practical Nursing Program

Jefferson Lewis BOCES graduates enter the workforce with manageable debt—$11,879 versus a national median of $14,803—but the earnings trajectory tells a troubling story. First-year earnings of $41,958 already fall below both the state median ($45,021) and national median ($44,134) for practical nursing programs. More concerning, earnings drop to $35,364 by year four, a 16% decline that suggests graduates may be struggling to maintain full-time hours or competitive positions in the Watertown area healthcare market.

The program ranks at the 40th percentile both nationally and within New York, positioning it squarely in the bottom half of options. To put this in perspective, several NY programs place graduates earning $56,000-$66,000 in their first year—50% more than what Jefferson Lewis graduates typically make. That gap persists over time and compounds significantly. With 70% of students receiving Pell grants, this lower earning potential hits a particularly vulnerable population.

The low debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28 provides some cushion, but declining income makes loan repayment progressively harder rather than easier. For families in the North Country where healthcare jobs may be limited, this program offers quick entry to nursing work—just be realistic that earnings may not grow as expected, and the total lifetime earnings could lag substantially behind what graduates from stronger NY programs achieve.