Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Trident Technical College

Trident Technical College's nursing program carries $27,750 in debt—substantially higher than both the state median of $22,500 and nearly double the national median of $14,803 for similar programs. Though first-year earnings based on comparable South Carolina programs suggest around $47,500, that debt load creates a 0.58 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates face debt equal to more than half their first year's salary. For context, peer programs across the state produce similar earnings with far less borrowed: York Tech grads earn $54,238, and even comparable performers like Midlands Tech report median debt closer to the state average.

The practical concern here is repayment timeline. With $27,750 in loans and estimated earnings just under $48,000, graduates will spend years managing that debt despite entering a field with steady demand. South Carolina's LPN market appears relatively consistent across schools—most programs cluster between $46,000 and $54,000 in first-year earnings—but Trident's debt burden stands out as unusually high for this credential. The gap matters: borrowing an extra $5,000-$8,000 above the state norm doesn't meaningfully change career prospects, but it does extend the financial recovery period.

Before committing, request actual placement and earnings data from Trident's program office, and compare total costs against other technical colleges in the region. If similar debt is unavoidable given your family's circumstances, the nursing credential remains marketable—but cheaper pathways to the same LPN license exist nearby.