Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at William Rainey Harper College

Harper College's practical nursing program shows low debt but notably weak earnings compared to other Illinois options. At $36,528 in the first year, graduates earn about $7,000 less than the state median for this field—placing this program in just the 25th percentile among Illinois nursing programs. When the top programs in the state are producing graduates earning $55,000 to $65,000 right out of the gate, that gap matters.

The silver lining is manageable debt ($8,750) and solid earnings growth: graduates see their income jump 36% by year four, reaching nearly $50,000. That trajectory suggests the credential does open doors to better positions over time. Still, starting $20,000+ behind peers from programs like Ambria or Illinois Central means playing catch-up for years.

For families prioritizing affordability, the low debt burden makes this less risky than many alternatives. But if your child can access one of Illinois's stronger nursing programs—many of which keep debt under $10,000 while delivering $15,000-$20,000 higher first-year earnings—that's clearly the better path. One caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes may vary more than usual. Before committing, ask Harper directly about their job placement rates and where their LPN graduates typically work compared to graduates from higher-earning programs.