Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing

Similar practical nursing programs in New York typically produce first-year earnings around $45,000, but four years out, Samaritan's reported figure of $44,063 raises questions about salary progression. Most nursing careers show steady wage growth as graduates gain experience and additional certifications—the flat trajectory here might reflect graduates working part-time, taking breaks from the workforce, or remaining in entry-level positions longer than peers. It's also worth noting that New York's top-performing programs are launching graduates into salaries $10,000-$20,000 higher from the start, suggesting significant variation in career outcomes across the state's nursing schools.

The estimated debt load of $19,750—drawn from just three comparable programs in New York—sits well above both the state median ($14,036) and national benchmark ($14,803) for practical nursing certificates. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44, graduates would need to dedicate roughly half a year's salary to debt repayment, which is manageable but not exceptional for a healthcare credential that should lead to immediate employment.

Before committing, your child should investigate why this program's four-year earnings lag behind its peers and whether the higher debt reflects better training, smaller class sizes, or simply costs that don't translate into stronger outcomes. The actual numbers for Samaritan graduates may differ from these peer-based estimates, but the lack of wage growth deserves scrutiny.