Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Olympic College

Olympic College's practical nursing program sits in an unusual position: it performs solidly against national benchmarks (70th percentile) but lands in the middle of Washington's competitive nursing landscape (40th percentile). The $48,850 first-year salary beats the national median by roughly $4,700, but it trails the state median by about $2,100—a meaningful difference when nearby Clover Park Technical College's graduates earn $4,200 more. For Washington families, this matters because in-state nursing programs generally pay better than the national average, and this program doesn't quite keep pace.

The financial picture itself is reasonable: $15,333 in debt against nearly $49,000 in earnings creates a manageable 0.31 ratio. That's close to both state and national averages, meaning graduates should be able to handle their loan payments while establishing themselves professionally. The debt level won't define their financial future, which is exactly what you want from a certificate program designed for quick workforce entry.

The caveat here is the small graduating class—fewer than 30 students. These numbers could shift significantly year to year, and a single outlier can skew the data. If Olympic College offers the convenience your family needs through location or scheduling, it's a workable choice that won't saddle your child with excessive debt. Just know that other Washington programs demonstrate you can potentially earn more right out of the gate, and that gap could compound over a nursing career.