Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Marian Health Careers Center-Van Nuys Campus

Marian Health Careers Center delivers strong first-year outcomes for nursing graduates—$58,726 puts them in the 95th percentile nationally and well above both state and national medians. The $12,333 debt load is manageable, translating to just three months of first-year earnings. For a Van Nuys family considering this program, the immediate return looks solid.

The concerning piece is what happens next: by year four, median earnings drop to $50,050, a 15% decline that's unusual for healthcare credentials. While graduates still earn competitively compared to national benchmarks, they're falling behind other California programs where earnings typically hold steady or climb. At the 60th percentile statewide, this program sits in the middle of the pack among California's 122 nursing certificate options—respectable but not exceptional given California's higher pay scales.

This pattern suggests graduates may start in well-paying acute care or hospital roles but either shift to lower-paying positions or face wage stagnation. For parents, the tradeoff is clear: low debt and strong immediate employment prospects, but expect earnings to plateau rather than grow. If your child needs to start working quickly with minimal borrowing, this works. But if they're willing to invest more in education, California's top programs show 20-30% higher sustained earnings are achievable.