Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois

Comparable LPN programs in Illinois suggest first-year earnings around $43,000, but that state median masks enormous variation—top programs produce graduates earning $55,000 to $65,000, meaning this field rewards careful program selection. The estimated $14,933 in debt sits above Illinois's typical $9,625 for this credential, which matters when you're entering a field where even strong performers rarely crack $50,000 initially.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35 looks manageable on paper, and it's roughly in line with national norms for LPN programs. But here's what that means practically: if these estimates hold, your child would be carrying debt equivalent to about four months of gross pay to enter a profession where advancement usually requires returning to school for an RN degree. With 63% of students receiving Pell grants, this program serves a price-sensitive population where that extra $5,000 in debt compared to state peers could represent a real burden.

The core question is whether Midwest Technical Institute can deliver outcomes closer to those top Illinois programs or whether graduates will land near the state median. Without actual outcome data for this specific school, you're making that bet blind. If cost is driving this decision, community colleges in Illinois are producing strong LPN graduates at lower debt levels—that's your comparison point.