Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Lincoln Land Community College

Lincoln Land Community College's nursing assistant program ranks in the bottom 10th percentile for earnings both nationally and within Illinois—a significant red flag when 55 other Illinois schools offer this same credential. First-year graduates earn just $29,851, roughly $13,000 below the state median and $14,000 below the national benchmark. More troubling, earnings drop to $25,077 by year four, suggesting graduates may be stuck in entry-level positions or facing limited advancement opportunities.

The $8,422 in typical debt is below the program's state median, which provides some cushion, but it doesn't change the fundamental economics: graduates are earning half what peers from top Illinois programs make. Illinois Central College graduates, for instance, earn $55,604—more than double Lincoln Land's four-year outcome. When other community colleges in Illinois consistently deliver $50,000+ earnings for similar programs, this performance gap demands explanation.

For families considering this program, the low debt is the only positive data point. If your child is set on attending Lincoln Land, they should investigate why outcomes lag so dramatically behind peer institutions—whether it's curriculum differences, clinical placement sites, or employer relationships in the Springfield area. Given the abundance of stronger-performing nursing programs across Illinois, most families would be better served exploring alternatives unless there are compelling geographic or personal reasons to stay local.