Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Mount Marty University

At $20,324 in estimated debt for first-year earnings around $38,446, this program falls in line with South Dakota's nursing assistant programs—but notably lags behind what similar credentials typically command nationally. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53 suggests manageable repayment, but peer programs across the country typically produce median earnings of $44,134, nearly $6,000 more annually.

What makes this challenging is that Mount Marty's estimated debt burden exceeds both the state and national medians for these programs. While South Dakota programs typically carry around $17,600 in debt, this estimate sits nearly $3,000 higher. Meanwhile, technical colleges in the state like Western Dakota Tech and Lake Area Tech report graduates earning in the low-$40,000s—suggesting that where you train may matter as much as the credential itself in South Dakota's tight healthcare labor market.

For parents weighing this investment, the core tension is clear: you're looking at above-average debt for below-average earnings compared to national benchmarks. The practical implication? It could take an extra year or two to reach financial breathing room compared to graduates from technical schools in the state. If your child is set on Mount Marty for specific reasons, understand that this path appears more expensive for similar outcomes than alternatives within an hour's drive.