Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater

Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater's practical nursing program produces graduates earning $37,867 their first year—roughly $3,000 below Florida's median for this credential and $6,000 below the national benchmark. What makes this gap particularly notable is that another Pinellas Technical College campus just 15 miles away in St. Petersburg sees its nursing graduates earn $47,306, a striking $10,000 difference despite identical training under the same district. Florida's top LPN programs consistently place graduates near $50,000 or higher, suggesting something about this Clearwater campus's clinical partnerships or local employer relationships isn't translating into competitive wages.

The $18,549 debt load is higher than Florida's typical $10,379 for LPN programs, though still manageable for a healthcare credential. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49 means graduates should be able to handle their loans, but they're starting at a disadvantage compared to peers across the state who borrowed less and earn more. With moderate employment placement at this particular campus, families should investigate why outcomes differ so dramatically from the St. Petersburg location.

For Florida families, this program ranks in the 40th percentile statewide—solidly below average. Before committing, ask the Clearwater campus directly about their job placement rates and primary employer partners, then compare those answers to what other Pinellas or nearby Tampa-area nursing programs offer. The credential itself has value, but this particular pathway appears less efficient than readily available alternatives.