Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at South Florida Institute of Technology

Graduates of this program earn less than $20,000 annually—putting them in the bottom 10% of Florida nursing assistant programs and the bottom 5% nationally. Even more concerning, earnings drop to just $15,273 by year four, a 16% decline that suggests many graduates struggle to maintain even minimal employment in healthcare. Compare this to Florida State College at Jacksonville's graduates who earn $57,579, or even Florida's state median of $40,922 for similar programs. This isn't about settling for average—it's about earning less than half of what's typical.

The $9,500 in debt may seem manageable in isolation, but it represents more than six months of first-year earnings. For a population where 68% qualify for Pell grants, this debt burden paired with poverty-level wages creates a genuine financial trap. Most Florida nursing assistant programs charge similar amounts but lead to earnings that support independent living. Here, graduates face the worst of both worlds: meaningful debt without the income to service it comfortably.

The consistent downward earnings trajectory after graduation is particularly troubling for a healthcare field that typically offers stable employment. Parents should understand this isn't about launching a healthcare career—the data suggests graduates may struggle to maintain consistent work in the field at all. With 110 nursing programs in Florida, your child deserves one that actually delivers on healthcare's promise of stable, living-wage employment.