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

Tennessee's nursing job market appears to weaken significantly after the first year, which makes TCAT-Jacksboro's earnings trajectory concerning. While graduates start at $42,300—above the state median of $39,477 and ranking in the 60th percentile among Tennessee nursing programs—earnings drop to $34,132 by year four. That's a 19% decline when most workers expect raises, suggesting either credential limitations in this market or graduates moving into lower-paying care settings.

The financial structure itself is solid: just $7,439 in debt represents one of the lowest burdens in the country (5th percentile nationally). The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.18 means graduates could theoretically pay off loans in about two months of gross income. However, this affordability advantage can't overcome the earnings deterioration. Compare this to TCAT-Nashville, where similar graduates earn $51,085, or TCAT-Athens at $46,871—both substantially higher without the downward trajectory.

For families considering this program, the question isn't whether it's affordable—it clearly is—but whether there are better paths to stable nursing income within Tennessee's technical college system. The declining earnings pattern suggests graduates may face limited advancement opportunities or market saturation in the Jacksboro area. If your child can access one of the higher-performing TCAT locations, the modest increase in debt would likely pay off through stronger, more stable earnings.