Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Pima Medical Institute-Aurora

Pima Medical Institute-Aurora graduates earn substantially more than typical practical nursing program graduates in Colorado—about $14,000 above the state median and $10,000 above the national average. This places the program in the 80th percentile statewide and 89th nationally, meaning it outperforms roughly four out of five comparable programs across the country.

The financial picture is straightforward: with debt of $11,597 (slightly below both state and national medians) and first-year earnings of $54,021, graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.21. That's manageable debt for strong earnings in a field with clear workforce demand. Nearly half the students receive Pell grants, suggesting the program serves working-class families looking for practical career training.

The main consideration is that three Colorado programs produce even higher earnings—Otero College leads at $74,405—so location matters if you have flexibility. But among Aurora-area options, Pima performs competitively with Concorde Career College while keeping debt reasonable. For families seeking quick entry into healthcare without bachelor's degree time and expense, this program delivers solid returns on a modest investment.