Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Saint Paul College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35 puts this program in solid territory—comparable nursing programs nationally suggest debt around $18,200 against first-year earnings near $51,700. That's manageable repayment math, though it's worth noting that Minnesota's median for this field runs somewhat higher at $54,376, with Hennepin Technical College's graduates actually hitting that mark. The slightly lower earnings estimate here doesn't necessarily reflect Saint Paul College's specific outcomes (data is suppressed due to small sample size), but it does suggest this program should be evaluated against concrete alternatives in the state.

The real tension is whether an associate's in practical nursing offers the career trajectory your child wants. These roles—LPNs and nursing assistants—have clear demand but limited advancement without additional credentials. First-year earnings in the low $50,000s are respectable for a two-year degree, and with 40% of Saint Paul College students on Pell grants, the program clearly serves students who need faster pathways to employment. But if your child has ambitions for supervisory roles or specialization, they'll likely need to pursue an RN eventually.

Talk specifically with Saint Paul College about their actual graduate outcomes and pipeline to RN programs. The estimates here are based on peer programs nationally, so you need concrete data on what this particular program delivers—especially placement rates and whether credits transfer smoothly if your child wants to advance. At this debt level, it's a reasonable investment if it leads directly to steady work, but verify those employment connections before committing.