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

Riverland Community College's practical nursing program turns out graduates who earn slightly above both national and Minnesota medians, while carrying significantly less debt than typical. At $22,356, students here borrow about $4,000 more than Minnesota's average but still sit in the 5th percentile nationally for debt—meaning 95% of similar programs across the country leave students with higher loan balances. The 0.50 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates would dedicate roughly half their first-year salary to paying off loans, which is manageable for an entry-level healthcare position.

Within Minnesota's competitive practical nursing landscape, Riverland performs respectably, ranking in the 60th percentile for earnings despite being based in smaller-market Austin rather than the Twin Cities metro. Graduates earn within a few thousand dollars of what top-performing programs like Dakota County Technical and Lake Superior produce, suggesting the credential holds solid value across the state's healthcare job market.

The caveat worth noting: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances could vary more than usual. Still, for families evaluating affordable paths into nursing, Riverland offers a straightforward proposition—relatively low borrowing for credentials that lead to steady healthcare employment with room for advancement.