Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at John Wood Community College

Based on comparable nursing assistant programs across Illinois, graduates here can expect to borrow around $9,440 and earn roughly $43,000 in their first year—a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22. That estimate aligns with the state median for these programs and sits just below the national benchmark of $44,134, suggesting John Wood's program follows typical patterns for this credential rather than standing out positively or negatively.

The concerning detail is the drop to $31,596 by year four. While first-year earnings from peer programs look reasonable, this decline is unusual—most healthcare workers see steady or increasing pay as they gain experience. This could reflect part-time work patterns, career changes, or reporting quirks, but it's a red flag when evaluating long-term earning potential. The state's top performers (Ambria College, Verve College) produce graduates earning $20,000-$30,000 more annually, though we don't know if John Wood's actual outcomes differ from these state-wide estimates.

The practical takeaway: this program likely offers an affordable entry point into nursing support roles, with debt that shouldn't overwhelm early earnings. But parents should recognize they're working with estimates rather than this school's verified track record, and that four-year earnings pattern deserves scrutiny. Talk to current students and recent alumni to understand whether career progression matches typical LPN trajectories in the Quincy area.