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

The numbers here are concerning, but the small sample size means they may not tell the full story. Graduates from this program earn just $25,955 in their first year—roughly $14,000 below Tennessee's median for practical nursing programs and a staggering $18,000 below the national benchmark. Among Tennessee's 29 nursing programs, this one ranks in just the 10th percentile. Compare that to TCAT Nashville, where graduates start at $51,085, or even nearby TCAT-Upper Cumberland at $44,915. That's not a modest difference; it's potentially life-changing for a household budget.

The low debt of $5,704 offers some consolation—it's about half Tennessee's median and well below the national average. This keeps the financial risk relatively contained in absolute terms. However, the earnings gap is so substantial that even minimal debt becomes harder to manage when you're making half what peers at other Tennessee schools earn.

Given the small sample size (under 30 graduates), these figures might not reflect typical outcomes. But if they're even directionally accurate, prospective students should seriously consider other Tennessee tech colleges with proven track records of stronger earnings. The modest debt savings don't justify potentially starting your nursing career $14,000+ behind your in-state peers.