Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Vernon College

Vernon College's practical nursing program gets graduates working quickly at decent wages, but the financial picture has an unusual wrinkle. First-year earnings of $47,677 beat both the Texas median ($46,004) and national average ($44,134), placing graduates in the 60th percentile statewide. More importantly, the debt load is remarkably low at $9,147—just 19% of first-year earnings and well below the state median of $14,535. For a certificate program serving a significant Pell population (38%), this manageable debt is a real advantage.

The concern is what happens next: earnings actually slip to $45,311 by year four, a 5% decline. This could reflect the realities of LVN/LPN work in rural Texas, where wage growth may be limited and some graduates might reduce hours or switch roles. Still, even with this dip, graduates are earning near the state median while carrying far less debt than peers at other Texas schools. Compare this to top-earning programs like Alvin Community College ($64,976), and you'll see Vernon isn't producing the highest earners—but it's also not burdening students with heavy loans.

For families prioritizing quick entry into healthcare with minimal debt risk, Vernon delivers. The earnings trajectory isn't ideal, but starting a nursing career with under $10,000 in debt provides flexibility that many LVN programs don't offer. Just understand the ceiling may be lower here than at urban programs with stronger hospital networks.