Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hartsville manages to outperform most practical nursing programs while keeping students almost entirely debt-free. At under $6,000 in median debt—less than half Tennessee's state median and a fraction of the national $14,803—graduates emerge with one of the cleanest balance sheets among nursing programs nationwide. First-year earnings of $46,390 exceed both state and national medians, placing this program solidly in the 60th percentile on both measures.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.13 means graduates typically earn their total debt back in less than two months of work, an exceptional return that reflects both reasonable program costs and solid job placement. While TCAT-Nashville and a few other Tennessee programs show higher starting salaries, the earnings difference of $5,000-$10,000 hardly justifies taking on significantly more debt. The practical nursing field typically offers stable, immediate employment, and starting nearly debt-free preserves financial flexibility that matters more than marginal salary differences early in a career.

For parents worried about nursing school costs spiraling out of control, this program delivers exactly what a certificate should: quick entry into a reliable profession without financial burden. The combination of above-average earnings and minimal debt makes this a straightforward win, particularly for students who need to start earning quickly and can't afford years of expensive education.