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

The small sample size here demands caution, but the available data reveals a troubling pattern: graduates from Manhattan Area Technical College's nursing program earn significantly less than their peers across Kansas. At $32,624 in the first year, that's $10,697 below the state median and nearly $12,000 below what similar programs at Donnelly College or Kansas City Kansas Community College produce. Even ranking in just the 25th percentile statewide signals consistent underperformance.

The 59% earnings jump to $51,890 by year four is dramatic and eventually closes the gap, but that first year matters enormously for new graduates managing living expenses and loan payments. The debt load of $13,998 is reasonable and slightly below state norms, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio even with the lower starting salary. Still, you're looking at roughly six months of gross income going to debt—longer than at most competing Kansas programs.

If your child is committed to studying in Manhattan specifically, this program can work, particularly given how earnings recover over time. But if location is flexible, other Kansas community colleges and technical schools are producing measurably better outcomes from day one. With 28 programs statewide to choose from, there's little reason to settle for bottom-quartile performance unless other factors (location, schedule flexibility, specific clinical partnerships) make this the only viable option.