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

Despite charging below-average debt at $8,000, Pima Medical Institute-Houston's nursing program delivers strikingly low earnings—$28,834 in the first year, placing it in just the 10th percentile among Texas nursing programs. This is roughly $17,000 less annually than what graduates from typical Texas nursing programs earn, and about $36,000 below top performers like Alvin Community College. Even within Houston's healthcare market, these numbers suggest significant challenges with job placement quality or credential recognition.

The 23% earnings growth to $35,578 by year four shows some improvement, but graduates still earn substantially less than peers who started at other programs. Among 72 nursing programs in Texas, this ranks near the bottom for outcomes. The low debt provides some cushion—graduates face a manageable 0.28 debt-to-earnings ratio initially—but they're fundamentally leaving tens of thousands of dollars on the table each year compared to alternatives.

For families considering this program, the question isn't whether the debt is manageable (it is), but whether accepting earnings in the bottom 10% of Texas nursing programs makes sense when community colleges and other vocational schools in the state consistently produce graduates earning $45,000-$65,000. With half the students here receiving Pell grants, these families can least afford to sacrifice $15,000-$20,000 in annual earnings over the long term. The program appears to be a poor value even at its relatively low price point.