Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at York Technical College

York Technical College's nursing assistant program carries an estimated debt load of $18,241—slightly below the national median for similar programs—while comparable associate's-level nursing programs nationally produce first-year earnings around $51,744. That 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates would dedicate roughly a third of their first year's income to debt, assuming typical repayment terms, which sits in manageable territory for healthcare credentials.

The challenge here is context. As the only school in South Carolina reporting this specific associate's-level nursing assistant program to the Department of Education, there's no state peer data to gauge whether York Tech sits high or low in the local market. The national benchmark of $51,744 reflects outcomes from 26 programs nationwide, but regional healthcare labor markets vary significantly—South Carolina's cost of living and wage structures may produce different results. The estimated figures give you a sense of typical outcomes for this credential type, but they're drawn from a small national sample rather than York Tech's actual graduate experience.

For parents, this means weighing a relatively modest debt burden against earnings that should support repayment, while recognizing you're making this decision with limited visibility into how this specific program performs. If your child is set on nursing and York Tech offers geographic or scheduling advantages, the numbers suggest reasonable financial risk. But confirm the career path: associate's-level nursing assistant roles differ significantly from RN positions in both scope and earning potential.