Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Lorenzo Walker Technical College

Nursing programs often show flat earnings trajectories, but this program's barely-there growth—just $500 over four years—stands out even in that context. While first-year earnings of $42,721 beat the state median for practical nursing programs, they lag well behind what top programs in Florida produce. Florida State College at Jacksonville's graduates, for instance, earn $57,579, nearly $15,000 more annually.

The estimated $10,553 in debt from similar Florida programs is manageable at roughly three months of first-year salary, and that's good news for a credential designed to get you working quickly. But here's the catch: those earnings are actual figures from Lorenzo Walker's graduates, and they plateau almost immediately. For context, comparable programs across Florida typically carry similar debt loads around $10,379, yet many deliver stronger earning potential right out of the gate.

What you're getting is reliable, middle-of-the-pack outcomes in Naples—decent first-year pay that won't grow much. If your child needs to work in the Naples area and wants minimal debt, this delivers. But if maximizing earning potential matters, other Florida nursing programs demonstrate significantly stronger results with similar time and debt commitments.