Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Lamar State College-Orange

Lamar State College-Orange's practical nursing program delivers below-average outcomes compared to other Texas options, with first-year earnings of $40,526 falling roughly $5,500 short of the state median. Among the 72 nursing programs across Texas, this ranks only in the 40th percentile—meaning most in-state alternatives produce better-earning graduates. When top performers in the state routinely see graduates earning $55,000-$65,000, that gap matters.

The debt load of $17,199 is manageable in absolute terms, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 that most graduates can handle. Earnings do grow steadily to $44,152 by year four, showing the credential has staying power. But that growth still leaves graduates trailing the state median, and the question remains whether starting behind ever really closes. For comparison, Angelina College graduates earn $54,637 right out of the gate with similar debt—a $14,000 head start that compounds over time.

If this is the most convenient option geographically or financially, it's workable—nursing credentials generally lead to stable employment. But Texas families have considerably stronger choices within the state system, particularly at community colleges like Alvin or Angelina that deliver significantly higher returns for comparable investment.