Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Oconee Fall Line Technical College

Oconee Fall Line Technical College's practical nursing program produces first-year earnings of $32,031—roughly $10,000 below Georgia's median for the program and landing in just the 25th percentile statewide. That's a significant gap when comparing to other Georgia technical colleges, where recent graduates at Augusta Tech and Georgia Piedmont earn $48,000-$51,000 in their first year. Even with 29% earnings growth to $41,431 by year four, graduates remain below what peers at stronger programs earn right out of the gate.

The $14,104 debt load is manageable at 0.44 times first-year earnings, and the program serves a predominantly working-class population (52% receive Pell grants). However, practical nursing is typically valued for its immediate earning power and career stability—strengths this program doesn't deliver compared to alternatives within Georgia's technical college system. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty to these figures, though the pattern of underperformance relative to state peers is concerning.

For families considering this program, the question is geographic: if Oconee Fall Line is the only accessible option, it provides a path to nursing credentials with reasonable debt. But if your child can commute to Athens Tech, Southern Crescent, or other Georgia technical colleges, those programs offer substantially better initial earnings that compound over a career. The $15,000-$19,000 earnings difference in year one isn't trivial for a practical nurse's budget.