Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus

Mildred Elley's practical nursing program charges nearly double the typical debt for this credential in New York ($24,459 vs. $14,036 state median), yet graduates earn right around the state median for the field. While first-year earnings of $55,424 beat the national average by 26%, that premium disappears when you compare against other New York programs—this ranks only in the 60th percentile statewide, well behind top performers like Transitions Career Institute ($65,992) or LaGuardia Community College ($56,230), which charge less.

The bigger concern is the earnings trajectory: graduates see their pay drop 8% by year four, falling to $50,881. That's unusual for nursing credentials and particularly problematic given the above-average debt load. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44 remains manageable, but you're paying more for outcomes you could likely achieve at lower cost elsewhere in the state. With 80% of students receiving Pell grants, this pricing structure hits lower-income families hardest.

If your child has already been accepted here and needs to start working quickly, the strong first-year earnings provide a decent foundation. But for families comparing options, explore public alternatives like LaGuardia or county BOCES programs that deliver comparable or better earnings with significantly less debt. In New York's competitive practical nursing landscape, this represents middle-tier results at premium pricing.