Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Pasco-Hernando State College

A $10,553 debt load for a nursing credential is manageable—that's about $7,000 less than the typical burden for similar programs nationally. Based on comparable practical nursing programs across Florida, graduates typically start around $41,000, which translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26. That means the entire debt equals roughly three months of gross first-year income, a level that most students can handle without significant strain.

The question is whether Pasco-Hernando State's program performs closer to Florida's state median or to the stronger programs in the region. Florida State College at Jacksonville and Meridian College place graduates at salaries above $54,000—nearly $13,000 more annually than the state average suggests. Since we're working with estimates here rather than actual outcomes for this specific program, it's worth investigating whether Pasco-Hernando State has partnerships with higher-paying healthcare systems or if their graduates typically compete for the same entry-level LPN roles as the state median suggests.

The relatively low debt makes this a safer bet even if earnings land near the conservative state estimate. With 30% of students receiving Pell grants, the school clearly serves price-sensitive families, and keeping borrowing under $11,000 matters more for them than chasing the highest possible salary. If your child can complete this program with that debt level and secure steady LPN employment in the $40,000 range, they'll have a clear path to financial stability and potential advancement into RN programs later.