Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at South Georgia Technical College

South Georgia Technical College's practical nursing program shows an unusual pattern that parents need to understand: graduates earn $43,266 in their first year—solid middle-of-the-pack performance—but see earnings drop 13% to $37,499 by year four. This decline is significant because most nursing careers follow the opposite trajectory, with earnings climbing as professionals gain experience and certifications.

The positive news is the modest debt load of $11,346, giving graduates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26 in that crucial first year. Among Georgia's 26 nursing programs, this ranks at the 60th percentile for earnings, meaning it performs better than many in-state alternatives, though it notably trails leaders like Augusta Technical College ($51,024) and Georgia Piedmont ($48,045) by $8,000-10,000 annually. The school serves a high percentage of Pell Grant recipients (51%), suggesting it provides access to students who might otherwise struggle to enter healthcare careers.

The earnings decline is the critical question mark here. It could reflect job changes, part-time work transitions, or local labor market challenges in the Americus area. For families committed to staying in south-central Georgia, the low debt makes this a reasonable stepping stone—but students with geographic flexibility should seriously consider higher-performing programs elsewhere in the state that offer both stronger initial earnings and likely better long-term trajectories.