Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Ross College-Grand Rapids North

Looking at comparable nursing programs in Michigan, you're facing nearly $20,000 in debt for estimated first-year earnings around $44,400. That's a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45, meaning your child could theoretically pay off the loan in about six months of gross income—if the estimates hold. The challenge here is that these figures come from peer programs across the state, not Ross College-Grand Rapids North's actual graduate outcomes, so there's inherent uncertainty in whether this school delivers similar results.

The comparison to other Michigan programs should give you pause, though. Community colleges like Schoolcraft and Gogebic are producing licensed practical nurses earning $60,000-$75,000 in their first year—substantially higher than what similar programs typically generate—while keeping debt lower. The estimated $19,941 at Ross sits above both the state median ($18,832) and well above the national median ($14,803) for this credential. With 79% of students receiving Pell grants, this is clearly a program serving students who can't afford expensive missteps.

The practical nursing credential itself is solid and leads to real jobs, but you need to determine if Ross specifically is delivering value comparable to its peers. Request their actual placement rates and average starting salaries for recent graduates. If they can't provide concrete numbers, consider whether you're willing to bet nearly $20,000 that their outcomes match the state average when other schools in Michigan are clearly doing better.