Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Pennsylvania Institute of Technology

Pennsylvania Institute of Technology graduates earn nearly $20,000 more than the typical nursing assistant program nationally, placing them in the 85th percentile. That's impressive on its face, but in Pennsylvania's competitive nursing certificate market, this represents middle-of-the-pack performance—60th percentile among 53 in-state options. Several technical schools and community colleges produce graduates earning $55,000 to $66,000 within a year.

The trade-off here is higher debt: at $24,218, graduates carry roughly $7,000 more than the Pennsylvania median for these programs and $10,000 more than the national average. However, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 remains manageable, meaning graduates earn more than twice what they owe. With 78% of students receiving Pell grants, this program clearly serves a population that may have limited alternatives, and the debt burden—while elevated—isn't crushing relative to immediate earning power.

The slight earnings dip by year four (from $52,794 to $51,879) is worth noting but minimal in practical terms. For families weighing this program, the calculation depends on in-state alternatives: can your child access one of Pennsylvania's stronger-performing technical school programs? If so, those offer similar or better outcomes at lower cost. If not, this delivers solid earnings despite the premium price tag.