Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Tom P. Haney Technical College

First-year earnings of $38,229 land Tom P. Haney's nursing program nearly $7,000 below the state median for similar credentials—a significant gap when Florida already trails the national average by about $3,000. While the program sits at the 40th percentile statewide, that still means three out of five comparable Florida programs produce better early outcomes. The estimated debt of around $10,500 (based on peer technical colleges in Florida) keeps the financial burden manageable at 28% of first-year earnings, but that's a relative bright spot in an otherwise modest earnings picture.

The real concern emerges when you look at what's possible within Florida's LPN market. Graduates from programs like Florida State College at Jacksonville and several Herzing campuses earn $47,000-$57,000 in their first year—outcomes that are 24% to 51% higher than what Tom P. Haney's program shows. Even accounting for regional wage differences around Panama City, that's a substantial earnings premium for credentials that take similar time to complete. With 110 nursing assistant and practical nursing programs across Florida, parents should ask why this particular option underperforms the state median by such a margin.

For families where the proximity to Panama City is essential and nursing is the clear career path, the low debt provides some protection against the weaker earnings. But if your child has options to attend programs in Jacksonville, Tampa, or other Florida markets showing stronger outcomes, those alternatives deserve serious consideration before committing here.