Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Mingo Extended Learning Center

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 is about as good as you'll find in healthcare training, and based on similar nursing assistant and practical nursing programs across West Virginia, that's roughly what Mingo Extended Learning Center's certificate delivers. The estimated $11,258 in debt sits below the state median for these programs, while the projected $38,898 first-year earnings matches the typical outcome statewide—though it lags about $5,000 behind the national median of $44,134.

Here's the catch: West Virginia's nursing assistant market simply pays less than most states, and several programs in the state show graduates earning in the mid-$40,000s within their first year. That $7,000+ gap between top WV programs and the state median matters over time. Whether this reflects differences in clinical training intensity, employer connections, or regional job markets isn't clear from the estimates, but it's worth investigating what distinguishes higher-performing programs.

The practical question is whether $11,258 in debt makes sense when your first-year income will likely cover it comfortably. For the 57% of students here receiving Pell grants, this program offers a viable entry into healthcare work without the debt burden that sinks many credentials. Just recognize you're starting from West Virginia wage levels, not national ones, and some peer programs in the state appear to position graduates for stronger initial earnings.