Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Mid-State Technical College

Something appears significantly off with the first-year earnings data here—$25,277 is unusually low for a nursing credential, and the dramatic jump to $43,502 by year four suggests graduates may be working part-time initially or the small sample size has created a misleading snapshot. That year-four figure is actually closer to what Wisconsin nursing programs typically deliver ($37,000 median), though it still lags behind the state's stronger programs, which consistently place graduates above $45,000. Among Wisconsin's 21 nursing programs, Mid-State ranks in just the 10th percentile—meaning nine out of ten comparable programs produce better earnings outcomes.

The modest $9,600 debt load is genuinely attractive and keeps this program's financial risk low, especially compared to the national median of $14,803. However, even with manageable debt, you're looking at earnings that fall short of what most Wisconsin nursing employers pay. The top-performing nursing programs in the state—including multiple Herzing campuses and Rasmussen—consistently deliver outcomes $4,000-5,000 higher annually.

Given the small sample size (under 30 graduates), these numbers may not reflect a typical graduate's experience. Before committing, your student should speak directly with recent graduates and local healthcare employers to understand whether this program provides adequate clinical training and employer connections. If stronger alternatives are geographically accessible, the earnings gap suggests they're worth serious consideration.