Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Sullivan University

Sullivan University's practical nursing program ranks impressively within Kentucky—80th percentile statewide—despite earning below the national median. For context, graduates here earn $40,909 in their first year compared to Kentucky's state median of $31,865, a meaningful $9,000 advantage. They're outperforming most in-state competitors except for Beckfield and Galen. Nationally, the program sits at the 35th percentile, but that comparison matters less when most students will work locally where these earnings compete well.

The debt picture is the real standout: at $25,959, Sullivan charges considerably more than Kentucky's typical $10,898, yet this still places them in the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of nursing certificate programs nationwide burden students with more debt. The 0.63 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe roughly eight months of their first-year salary, manageable for healthcare employment. Earnings grow modestly to $43,242 by year four, showing stability rather than dramatic upward mobility typical in nursing careers.

For Kentucky families, this represents solid value: higher tuition than community colleges but stronger placement outcomes than most local alternatives, and graduates enter the workforce with debt they can realistically manage on an LPN salary. The low Pell grant percentage (11%) suggests this program primarily serves students with some financial resources, which may explain the higher price point.