Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at South College

South College's practical nursing certificate produces graduates earning slightly below Tennessee's median for the field, but with notably higher debt—about $6,300 more than what typical Tennessee nursing assistants and LPNs carry. At just under $16,000, the debt isn't catastrophic, but several Tennessee College of Applied Technology locations deliver substantially better outcomes, with graduates earning $45,000-$51,000 while carrying less debt.

The program serves a largely working-class population (half receive Pell grants), and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40 means borrowers should be manageable—graduates earn enough to pay back loans within a reasonable timeframe. However, with first-year earnings of $39,238, this falls $5,000 short of the national median for similar programs. Tennessee actually has strong earning potential in this field, which makes South College's middle-of-the-pack performance within the state worth considering carefully.

For families comparing options, the Tennessee College of Applied Technology system appears to offer better value across the board. If South College provides specific advantages—location, scheduling flexibility, or faster completion—the premium might be justified. But purely on financial returns, parents should investigate why those TCAT programs consistently produce higher-earning graduates with less debt before committing to South College's version of this credential.