Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Premiere Career College

Premiere Career College's nursing assistant program sits in an uncomfortable middle ground: it costs more than most competitors while delivering below-average California outcomes. With first-year earnings of $43,854, graduates earn nearly $10,000 less than the state median for this program—landing in just the 25th percentile among California schools. That's particularly striking given that dozens of California community colleges produce stronger earnings at lower cost. The $20,000 debt load, while manageable relative to first-year income, is above both state and national averages for a credential that typically costs less at public institutions.

The positive news is that earnings do grow meaningfully—18% over four years—and the debt-to-income ratio of 0.46 remains in comfortable territory. For families where Premiere's schedule or location solves a real access problem, this program won't derail finances. But the comparison to top California programs is stark: schools like Unitek College and Medical Allied Career Center place graduates earning 50% more with similar or lower debt burdens.

If your child has options at a California community college offering this program, those are almost certainly better financial bets. Premiere makes sense primarily as a backup plan when other doors are closed—not as a first choice for families shopping on value.