Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Quinsigamond Community College

Quinsigamond graduates earn solidly above the national average for practical nursing programs—$10,500 more than typical—but there's a notable gap within Massachusetts itself. At $54,629, first-year earnings fall just short of the state median of $55,338, and well behind top regional performers like Shawsheen Valley ($72,230) and Greater Lowell Technical School ($67,281). The 40th percentile state ranking suggests this program sits firmly in the middle tier among Massachusetts options, even as it excels nationally.

The financial structure works in students' favor. At $19,771 in median debt, graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36—manageable by any standard and notably lower than the national median debt for these programs. Given that 39% of students receive Pell grants, this accessibility matters. Graduates can realistically pay down loans while establishing themselves in the workforce, even if they're not reaching the earning potential of Worcester County's highest-performing nursing programs.

The small sample size warrants caution, but the core tradeoff is clear: your child gets reliable entry into nursing without crushing debt, though earnings may lag behind what nearby programs deliver. If staying local in Worcester is important, this works. If maximizing early earning potential matters more, consider whether programs like Mount Wachusett or Greater Lowell are viable alternatives.