Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Southeastern Technical College

A nursing certificate from Southeastern Technical College appears to produce first-year earnings of $39,368—about $3,000 below the state median for similar programs and roughly $5,000 below the national benchmark. While debt is manageable based on comparable Georgia programs (estimated around $13,234), the earnings gap is substantial enough to warrant attention. Top performers like Augusta Technical and Georgia Piedmont Technical see their graduates earning $47,000-$51,000 in the first year, suggesting location, clinical partnerships, or program structure create meaningful differences in outcomes across Georgia's nursing certificate landscape.

The debt-to-earnings picture looks reasonable on paper at 0.34, meaning graduates would owe about four months of gross pay. However, this assumes debt levels mirror other Georgia programs—the actual figure could vary. What's more concerning is the earnings trajectory: starting nearly 11% below the state average in a field with relatively standardized credentialing suggests graduates may face regional wage limitations or encounter difficulty securing positions at higher-paying facilities.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether Vidalia's labor market can support nursing career growth. If your child plans to stay local, investigate what healthcare employers recruit from Southeastern and what they typically pay new LPNs. If they're willing to relocate to Atlanta or Augusta, starting with a program that has stronger regional employer connections might justify a slightly longer commute during training.