Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Pierpont Community and Technical College

Here's a counterintuitive finding: while Pierpont's practical nursing program trails the national median by about $5,000 annually, it actually performs better than 60% of nursing programs in West Virginia—a state where this is already a lower-paying field. The real story here is the debt load. At $21,447, students are borrowing roughly 63% more than the state median of $13,125, which creates a less favorable debt-to-earnings ratio even though the earnings themselves are reasonable for West Virginia.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes these figures less reliable, but the debt pattern is concerning enough to warrant attention. Other West Virginia programs like West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown or United Technical Center are producing graduates earning $7,000+ more annually while keeping debt closer to state norms. That earnings gap compounds quickly over a nursing career.

For families weighing this program, the core question is whether Pierpont offers advantages that justify the higher borrowing—perhaps location, schedule flexibility, or support services that other programs lack. If those factors aren't critical, the data suggests exploring alternatives within West Virginia that deliver stronger earnings with less debt burden. The $39,000 starting salary can support the loan payments, but tighter-budgeted programs would leave your child with more financial breathing room early in their career.