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

This TCAT-Jackson nursing program gets one thing absolutely right—keeping debt minimal. At $9,500, graduates carry roughly one-third the national median debt for these programs, which matters tremendously for a credential designed for quick workforce entry. The 0.24 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can realistically pay this off within a year or two while building their careers.

The challenge lies in the earnings themselves. At $39,078 initially, graduates earn about $5,000 less than the national median and sit near the bottom of Tennessee's practical nursing programs. Compare this to TCAT-Nashville graduates earning $51,000+ or even nearby TCAT-Athens at $47,000, and the gap becomes significant—roughly $200,000 over a decade. The 40th percentile ranking within Tennessee suggests this reflects local market conditions in Jackson rather than program quality issues, but geography clearly impacts earning potential here.

For families prioritizing minimal debt and immediate employment in the Jackson area, this program delivers affordability and job readiness. The modest 7% earnings growth over four years is typical for practical nursing roles. However, if your child could commute to Nashville, Athens, or Hartsville, those extra miles translate to substantially higher lifetime earnings while maintaining the same low-debt advantage. The question becomes whether staying local is worth forgoing $10,000-12,000 annually in earning potential.