Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Skagit Valley College

Nursing programs in Washington typically deliver stronger first-year outcomes than what peer programs nationally suggest for Skagit Valley College graduates. While similar programs across the country show first-year earnings around $44,000, Washington's median for practical nursing sits notably higher at $51,000. Nearby programs with reported data—like Clover Park Technical College at $53,000 and Olympic College at $49,000—confirm that Washington's healthcare market generally pays better than the national average. The estimated debt of roughly $14,000 translates to a manageable 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would typically face about three months of gross income in loans.

The puzzle here is the four-year earnings figure of $42,000, which sits below the first-year estimate. This likely reflects data suppression issues rather than actual wage decline—practical nursing careers don't typically see earnings drops. What matters is that Washington's LPN wages consistently outpace national figures, and the debt burden appears reasonable for a credential that gets graduates working quickly in a high-demand field.

The key question is whether Skagit Valley's actual outcomes align with other Washington programs or fall closer to national averages. Given the school's community college structure and the state's robust healthcare sector, there's reason to expect performance closer to the Washington median, but you're making this investment without seeing this specific program's track record. If comparable programs in the state are your baseline, the value proposition looks solid—just understand you're betting on that assumption.