Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Western Iowa Tech Community College

Western Iowa Tech's nursing assistant program starts graduates at just $29,348—dramatically below both the national median ($44,134) and even Iowa's median ($33,716). That 5th percentile national ranking is genuinely concerning, placing this among the weakest initial outcomes in the country. However, the earnings trajectory tells a more hopeful story: graduates see 63% growth by year four, reaching $47,680, which actually surpasses the national median.

The debt picture is manageable at $14,499, roughly in line with state and national norms, creating a reasonable 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio even with that weak first-year salary. Among Iowa's 16 programs, this ranks at the 40th percentile—squarely middle-of-the-pack for the state, though programs like Eastern Iowa CC deliver substantially stronger outcomes from day one. The real question is what causes that exceptionally low starting wage: geographic factors in Sioux City, employer mix, or differences in certification levels among graduates.

For parents, this program requires patience. If your child needs immediate earning power after graduation—to start repaying loans or support themselves—the first-year salary may not cut it. But graduates who can weather that initial period do catch up to their peers. Given Iowa's competitive LPN market, you should seriously compare this to Des Moines Area or Iowa Western, where graduates start closer to state norms without the earnings deficit.