Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Reading Area Community College

Reading Area Community College's practical nursing program punches well above the national average, with first-year earnings of $53,953—nearly $10,000 more than the typical program nationally and landing graduates in the 88th percentile. However, the state context tells a more nuanced story: these earnings sit at Pennsylvania's 60th percentile, suggesting this is solid but not exceptional performance for the Commonwealth, where several technical schools place graduates earning $55,000-$66,000.

The debt picture looks manageable at $19,041, resulting in a 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio that's considerably better than many healthcare programs. That's about four months of gross income—reasonable for a credential that gets graduates working quickly. Still, it's worth noting this debt sits slightly above both state and national medians for the field.

The major caveat: this data comes from a small cohort of fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances heavily influence these numbers. For families drawn to Reading Area's community college environment and 43% Pell Grant population, this represents a viable path into nursing. Just recognize that several Pennsylvania vocational-technical schools are placing graduates at higher starting salaries, sometimes substantially so. If maximizing immediate earnings matters most, compare carefully with programs like Delaware County Technical School before committing.