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

York Technical College's nursing program graduates earn $54,238 in their first year—well above both the national median ($44,134) and South Carolina's median ($47,544) for similar programs. That's 89th percentile nationally and a strong showing for a certificate program that costs just $12,434 in typical debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23 means graduates owe less than three months of their first-year salary, making this affordable by any measure.

The complication here is the earnings trajectory. By year four, median earnings drop to $45,957—a 15% decline that's unusual for healthcare workers. This could reflect graduates moving to part-time work, changing employers for better work-life balance, or leaving direct patient care roles. It's worth noting that even at this lower level, graduates still earn competitively within South Carolina, where they rank in the 60th percentile statewide.

For parents weighing this against other South Carolina options, York performs solidly but isn't the top earner—programs like Orangeburg Calhoun and Tri-County deliver slightly higher returns. Still, the combination of strong starting earnings and manageable debt makes this a defensible choice for students who need quick entry into the workforce. Just be aware that the salary growth typical of many healthcare careers doesn't show up clearly in this data.