Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Mt Hood Community College

Oregon's nursing programs command significantly higher salaries than the national norm, and Mt Hood's estimated outcomes align with this pattern. Based on four comparable LPN programs in the state, first-year earnings of roughly $55,000 would put this program right at Oregon's median—about $11,000 above what similar programs produce nationally. That premium matters when you're looking at an estimated debt load of $13,700, which translates to a manageable 0.25 debt-to-earnings ratio.

The practical reality is straightforward: peer programs in Oregon suggest graduates can cover this debt burden with about three months of income. While we're working with estimates here (the actual graduate cohort was too small for the DOE to report publicly), the consistency across Oregon's LPN programs provides reasonable confidence. Schools like Institute of Technology and Concorde Career College show earnings in the $57,000-$58,000 range, while Lane Community College comes in slightly lower at $50,500—Mt Hood's estimated position falls comfortably in the middle.

For an anxious parent, this looks like solid footing for a healthcare credential that gets your child working quickly. The combination of Oregon's strong healthcare wages and a debt load below both state and national medians suggests this pathway makes financial sense, though confirming these estimates with the school's actual placement data would strengthen your decision.