Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Texas Southmost College

Texas Southmost College graduates this practical nursing program with notably less debt than typical—just $10,102 compared to the $14,535 Texas median. That's roughly $4,400 less borrowed for similar starting pay, since first-year earnings of $46,052 essentially match the state median. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22 means graduates owe less than three months' salary, a manageable burden that most can clear within a couple of years.

The tradeoff here is ceiling versus stability. Top Texas programs like Alvin Community College ($64,976) and Angelina College ($54,637) show significantly higher earning potential, suggesting this isn't the path to maximizing income. However, for students prioritizing immediate workforce entry with minimal debt—particularly those from lower-income backgrounds in the Brownsville area—this program delivers practical value. The lower debt load matters more when you're starting at $46K rather than $65K.

One important caveat: the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year. If your child values lower financial risk and faster debt payoff over maximum earnings, this works. If they're mobile and willing to relocate for training, programs further north in Texas offer substantially better pay for similar debt loads.