Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Washington State College of Ohio

The small sample size here demands caution, but the pattern is troubling: graduates earn $36,836 initially, then see their income drop 10% to $33,277 by year four. That's roughly $10,000 below Ohio's median for practical nursing programs and places this in the bottom quarter nationally. Among Ohio's 77 nursing programs, this lands at the 40th percentile—meaning more than half of comparable in-state options show stronger outcomes. Top performers like Cincinnati State ($53,908) demonstrate that Ohio practical nursing graduates can earn substantially more elsewhere.

The debt load of $16,059 isn't extreme—it's close to both state and national medians—but paired with below-average earnings, graduates face a challenging repayment situation. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44 is manageable on paper, though the declining income trajectory raises questions about whether this program adequately prepares students for career advancement. With only 27% of students receiving Pell grants, this isn't primarily serving the most economically vulnerable students who might have fewer alternatives.

Given the limited sample size, these numbers could shift dramatically with more data. But as it stands, Ohio families should examine why this program's outcomes lag behind so many in-state alternatives. If you're considering Washington State College, request placement rates and talk directly with recent graduates about their career paths before committing.