Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Moraine Park Technical College

The numbers here raise serious red flags, even accounting for the small sample size. First-year earnings of $25,000 fall dramatically short—not just of the national median ($44,134), but also of what Wisconsin nursing assistants typically earn ($37,000). This program ranks in just the 10th percentile among Wisconsin nursing programs, meaning 90% of comparable programs in the state produce better earnings outcomes.

The low debt ($7,000) provides some cushion—at least graduates aren't heavily leveraged—but that doesn't change the fundamental problem: several comparable Wisconsin programs are seeing graduates earn nearly double what Moraine Park graduates report. Herzing's campuses across the state, for instance, show first-year earnings around $47,000. Even if Moraine Park's figure is depressed by part-time workers or other sampling issues, the gap is too large to ignore.

For parents, this matters because nursing assistant programs are supposed to provide quick entry into stable healthcare work. If your child is considering Moraine Park, you need to understand why graduates here are earning roughly $12,000 less than the Wisconsin median. Is it the specific credential offered? Regional job market differences? Until you have satisfactory answers to those questions, the safer bet is exploring one of Wisconsin's better-performing programs—even if it means slightly higher upfront costs.