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

At $22,852 in debt, Kellogg's nursing program costs more than the typical Michigan LPN program ($18,832) and sits well above the national median of $14,803. That matters because the estimated first-year earnings—around $44,383 based on comparable programs in Michigan—are solid but not spectacular. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51 means graduates would owe roughly half their first year's salary, manageable but not trivial when you're earning in the mid-$40s.

The real story emerges by year four, when median earnings jump to $61,020. That's a significant increase that suggests LPNs either gain experience quickly or transition into better-paying roles. However, peer Michigan programs show wide variation in outcomes: Schoolcraft Community College graduates report $75,104 in first-year earnings—nearly 70% more than the state median Kellogg's estimates are based on. Even nearby Muskegon Community College shows $60,995. This raises questions about whether all LPN certificates deliver equal value, or whether factors like clinical partnerships and local job markets create meaningful differences.

For parents: the debt here isn't prohibitive, but it's above average for a credential that typically costs less. The four-year earnings suggest the investment pays off over time, though without actual first-year data for Kellogg specifically, you're betting on the state average rather than this school's track record. If comparable cost programs show stronger outcomes, that's worth investigating before committing.