Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at PCI Health Training Center

This program carries an estimated $16,642 in debt—slightly above Texas and national medians for nursing certificates—while comparable Texas programs suggest first-year earnings around $46,000. That 0.36 debt-to-earnings ratio looks manageable on paper, but there's a red flag buried in the data: four years out, actual reported earnings for this program drop to just $23,297. That's a dramatic decline that raises questions about whether graduates are staying in nursing or finding full-time work in the field.

The estimated first-year earnings align with what similar Texas programs report, and would be sufficient to handle the debt load if they held steady. But that steep earnings drop suggests something isn't working—whether it's job placement, credential recognition, or program completion issues. For context, top nursing certificate programs in Texas like Alvin Community College and Angelina College produce graduates earning $55,000-$65,000 in their first year, showing what's possible with stronger programs. With 87% of students here on Pell grants, a credential that doesn't lead to stable nursing employment is particularly costly.

Given the uncertainty around these estimates and the troubling four-year earnings figure, parents should demand concrete answers: What percentage of graduates pass their licensing exam on the first try? What's the job placement rate in actual nursing positions? Without solid answers to those questions, this program carries significant financial risk even at a seemingly manageable debt level.