Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Saint Michael College of Allied Health

Saint Michael College of Allied Health graduates earn nearly 70% more than the typical nursing assistant program nationally—$74,782 versus the national median of $44,134. That massive premium places this program in the 95th percentile nationwide, and with debt of just $17,713 (a 0.24 debt-to-earnings ratio), graduates owe less than a quarter of their first-year salary. For context, the debt-to-earnings ratio is roughly half what many bachelor's programs demand, yet these graduates start earning immediately.

The DC market appears to drive much of this advantage. As the only nursing assistant program reporting data in the district, direct state comparisons aren't possible, but DC's healthcare wages are notoriously high due to the concentration of government facilities, military hospitals, and high-paying private healthcare systems. The 60th percentile national ranking when compared specifically to DC programs (likely capturing broader regional data) suggests this program performs solidly even within the high-wage DC context, though perhaps not exceptionally.

The relatively moderate admission rate (64%) and lower Pell enrollment (26%) suggest this program may screen for students who are job-ready, which could contribute to the strong outcomes. For families willing to work or live in DC's high-cost environment, this program offers an accelerated path to healthcare earnings that significantly outpaces what most nursing assistant programs deliver, with manageable debt that shouldn't derail other financial goals.