Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College

At $30,338 in first-year earnings, this program falls well below both the national median ($44,134) and trails most Kentucky nursing programs significantly. While the debt load of $12,523 is manageable, the real concern is the trajectory: graduates actually earn slightly *less* four years out than they do initially. This pattern suggests limited advancement opportunities or reduced hours—a dynamic that should worry parents looking at nursing as a stable career path. Among Kentucky's 23 practical nursing programs, this ranks squarely in the middle, but top-performing programs in the state like Beckfield College-Florence and Galen College deliver nearly $20,000 more in annual earnings.

The math still works from a pure debt standpoint—borrowers could reasonably repay $12,523 on these wages—but the opportunity cost is substantial. Graduates here earn roughly $14,000 less annually than the national norm for this certificate, which compounds to over $50,000 in lost earnings across just the first four years. For Kentucky families, several in-state alternatives offer significantly better returns without requiring relocation. Parents should ask why this program underperforms when nursing shortages typically drive strong wages even for entry-level roles. The moderate class sizes suggest this isn't a data fluke, making the weak earnings pattern harder to dismiss.