Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at North Central State College

North Central State College's practical nursing certificate comes with manageable debt—just $10,424, well below both the national and state medians—but graduates earn notably less than peers across Ohio. At $38,897 first-year, earnings lag $4,300 behind the state median and sit in the 40th percentile among Ohio programs. Compare this to Cincinnati State graduates earning $53,908 or even nearby Central Ohio Technical College at $48,483, and the earnings gap becomes substantial.

The low debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27 means graduates can reasonably manage their loan payments, which matters for a field where immediate income is crucial. However, the earnings disadvantage persists: nationally, this program ranks in just the 26th percentile, suggesting this isn't merely a regional cost-of-living issue. For a profession where certification and licensure should theoretically equalize earning potential, the $10,000-15,000 gap between this program and top Ohio schools is significant.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty here, so these numbers could shift with more data. But given that dozens of Ohio programs produce stronger first-year earnings at similar or even lower debt levels, families should carefully compare options. If North Central State offers geographic convenience or specific scheduling flexibility that matters for your family, the debt burden is at least manageable—but purely as an earnings investment, other Ohio programs show clearer returns.