Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Milan Institute-San Antonio Ingram

Graduates of this practical nursing program at Milan Institute-San Antonio Ingram earn $26,049 their first year out—roughly half what the typical Texas nursing assistant makes ($46,004) and dramatically below the national median of $44,134. This places the program in the bottom 10% statewide and bottom 5% nationally, a troubling position in a field where Texas programs generally pay well. For context, graduates from Alvin Community College in the same credential earn $64,976, nearly 2.5 times more.

The debt load of $9,500 is relatively modest and below both state and national medians, which helps soften the blow of those low earnings. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36 means graduates owe about four months' salary—manageable on paper. But that calculation assumes students can live on $26,049 annually, which in San Antonio translates to about $12.50 per hour. That's barely above minimum wage for work that involves direct patient care and requires formal training.

With 73% of students receiving Pell grants, most families here are banking on this credential to provide economic mobility. The numbers suggest it's not delivering. Other Texas nursing programs—even community colleges—demonstrate this credential can lead to $50,000+ starting salaries. Unless there are compelling personal circumstances keeping a student at this specific campus, families should explore alternative programs that better reflect the earning potential this field typically offers in Texas.