Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Lincoln Technical Institute-Shelton

Lincoln Technical Institute-Shelton's practical nursing program charges a premium but delivers strong national results that fall short within Connecticut. Graduates earn $52,233 in their first year—well above the national median of $44,134 and ranking in the 83rd percentile nationally. However, this same earning power only reaches the 40th percentile among Connecticut's five nursing programs, where the state median is $52,845.

The debt picture tells a nuanced story. At $19,250, student debt sits in the 21st percentile nationally (meaning 79% of similar programs nationwide charge more), but it's nearly identical to Connecticut's median debt of $20,032. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 is reasonable for healthcare training, meaning graduates typically earn back their investment in under five months of work. One concern: earnings show zero growth from year one to year four, suggesting limited advancement potential.

For Connecticut families, this program offers solid career preparation at a competitive price point, but you're paying similar costs for below-median state outcomes. If your child can gain admission to Porter & Chester Institute's programs, they offer meaningfully higher earnings for comparable debt. However, Lincoln Technical's strong national standing and manageable debt load still represent a viable path into nursing, particularly given the field's job security and the program's robust graduate sample size.