Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Based on comparable nursing assistant programs across Missouri, first-year earnings around $43,000 and debt near $20,000 create a manageable but not exceptional financial picture. The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 means your child would owe roughly half a year's salary—a workable figure for healthcare credentials that typically lead to stable employment. However, peer programs in Missouri show considerable variation, with some community and technical centers producing graduates earning $50,000 to nearly $60,000 in their first year, suggesting location and employer relationships matter significantly in this field.

The estimated $20,000 in debt sits above both the state and national medians for practical nursing programs, which cluster closer to $15,000. While the difference isn't dramatic, it means graduates here would likely face higher monthly payments than peers from other Missouri programs. Given that nursing assistants often work demanding shifts for modest wages, every few thousand dollars in additional debt affects monthly budgets meaningfully—think groceries, car payments, or emergency savings.

Since these figures are estimates based on peer programs rather than this specific college's outcomes, consider reaching out to the school directly for placement rates and typical starting employers. The 100% admission rate and strong Pell enrollment suggest accessibility, but you'll want to understand whether their clinical partnerships lead to the higher-earning opportunities you see at Missouri's top-performing programs, or whether graduates are landing closer to that $43,000 baseline.