Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Umpqua Community College

Oregon's practical nursing programs consistently outpace the national picture, and Umpqua's estimated outcomes fit this pattern. Based on data from comparable Oregon programs, graduates might expect around $55,000 in first-year earnings—about $11,000 above the national median for this credential. The estimated debt load of $13,671 sits comfortably below both state and national benchmarks, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.25 that suggests manageable repayment even on an entry-level LPN salary.

What's harder to gauge is how Umpqua specifically stacks up against Oregon's other nursing programs. The state's top performers report first-year earnings ranging from $50,500 to $58,500, placing the estimated figure for Umpqua right in the middle of that pack. But without actual graduate outcomes from this campus, it's impossible to know whether Umpqua's location in rural Roseburg affects employment prospects or starting wages compared to programs near Portland's larger healthcare market.

The fundamentals look sound—nursing credentials generally deliver solid returns, and Oregon's healthcare wages are strong. But given the uncertainty around these specific estimates, your best move is confirming job placement rates and asking where recent Umpqua graduates actually landed positions. The difference between working locally versus relocating could meaningfully shift both earnings and the overall value equation.