Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at St Philip's College

St Philip's College graduates enter nursing careers with notably less debt than typical—about $10,400 compared to the state median of $14,500—but their first-year earnings of $43,668 trail the Texas median by roughly $2,300. Within Texas's 72 nursing programs, this ranks in the 40th percentile, meaning six in ten programs produce stronger initial outcomes. The program sits comfortably below several San Antonio-area competitors, particularly when compared to top performers like Alvin Community College ($65K) or Angelina College ($54K).

The silver lining is the debt picture: with a 0.24 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates owe less than three months' salary, making repayment manageable from day one. Earnings also climb to $51,076 by year four—a respectable 17% increase that narrows the gap with higher-performing programs. For students prioritizing affordability and quick workforce entry, this trade-off might work, especially given that 21% of students receive Pell grants, suggesting the program serves cost-conscious families.

The question is whether saving $4,000 in debt justifies starting $2,300 behind peers at other Texas programs, particularly when those earnings differences compound over time. For families weighing in-state options, stronger-performing community colleges across Texas offer better initial positioning without necessarily requiring much more debt.