Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Madison Area Technical College

Wisconsin's nursing assistant and practical nursing programs cluster tightly around $37,000 in first-year earnings, and Madison Area Technical College appears to fit right in this range based on comparable programs statewide. The estimated $9,334 in debt is notably lower than both the state median ($12,000) and national median ($14,803), which matters when you're entering a field where starting salaries lag behind national benchmarks—Wisconsin LPN/nursing assistant programs typically start about $7,000 below the national median of $44,134.

The jump to $52,774 by year four tells a more promising story. That's substantial earnings growth that suggests either career advancement opportunities (perhaps moving from CNA to LPN roles) or the value of experience in healthcare settings. At that income level, the estimated debt becomes quite manageable. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.25 is solid for a certificate program, meaning graduates would theoretically owe roughly three months of their first year's salary.

The key uncertainty here is whether Madison Area Technical College's actual outcomes align with these state averages. The higher-earning programs in Wisconsin—the Herzing campuses and Rasmussen—are posting first-year figures around $45-47K, suggesting some programs do significantly better. Your child would want to investigate whether Madison Area Technical College's clinical placement partnerships and job placement rates justify choosing it over these alternatives, especially since the debt appears competitive regardless.