Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Palm Beach Academy of Health & Beauty

Florida's nursing assistant and practical nursing programs show a wide earnings spread, with top performers hitting $57,000 while typical programs cluster around $41,000. Palm Beach Academy's estimated outcomes land right at the state median—$40,922 in first-year earnings against roughly $9,861 in debt. That 0.24 debt-to-earnings ratio is notably better than both the state ($10,379) and national ($14,803) median debt loads, suggesting the program keeps costs relatively contained while producing earnings in line with Florida norms.

The challenge is that these figures come from comparable programs across Florida, not tracked graduates from this specific school. With two-thirds of students receiving Pell grants, affordability matters significantly here. The estimated debt is manageable on a $41,000 salary, but you're looking at entry-level healthcare wages that trail the national median by about $3,200. Several Florida programs—particularly the technical colleges and Herzing campuses—demonstrate that substantially higher earnings are possible in this field within the state.

The core question is whether Palm Beach Academy's actual outcomes match these state averages or fall short. For a family investing in vocational training, the estimated numbers suggest a workable debt load but modest earning potential. Before enrolling, confirm the school's actual job placement rates and see if graduates are consistently finding work in the $40,000+ range—if outcomes lag the state median, even that lower debt figure won't compensate.