Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $25,171 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $100,684 |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 60.7% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $14,120 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $24,510/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $26,584/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $27,458/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $29,495/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. | Certificate | $43,957 | $14,120 |
The Risk Factor
60.7% of students at Athena Career Academy graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 39% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Athena Career Academy gives you one real path to a paycheck: nursing. The certificate in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants leads to about $44,000 a year, and Toledo's healthcare employers hire LPNs and nursing assistants steadily. Your median debt of $14,120 stays below what you'd earn in a single year on the job, which is the ratio you want to see. On debt alone, the math works.
The problem is the price to get there. At over $25,000 a year in net price, this is expensive for a two-year for-profit school, and that cost barely moves as family income rises. If your family earns under $30,000, you'll pay around $24,500. if it earns $75,000 to $110,000, you'll pay closer to $29,500. Lower-income families get a small break, but nobody gets a cheap education here. Compare that to a community college LPN program in Ohio, where tuition runs a fraction of this, and the return gets harder to justify.
The 60.7% graduation rate is your biggest risk. Four in ten students don't finish. If you drop out, you carry the cost without the $44,000 credential that pays it back, and the debt stops making sense fast.
This school fits you if you're set on nursing, confident you'll finish, and value a direct route into Toledo's health system over a slower, cheaper community college track. Look elsewhere if you're unsure about nursing, price-sensitive, or want options beyond a single certificate field. Only one program's earnings are reported, so there's no financial fallback if nursing isn't for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Athena Career Academy worth the cost for nursing programs?
Athena Career Academy's nursing programs offer decent value with graduates earning around $44,000 median salary against $14,120 in debt. The return on investment is reasonable for healthcare careers, though the 61% graduation rate means 4 out of 10 students don't finish.
What is the job outlook for Athena Career Academy graduates?
Graduates primarily enter nursing and healthcare support roles with steady job demand in Ohio. However, the relatively low median salary of $44,000 means pay increases slowly, and career advancement typically requires additional education.
How much debt do Athena Career Academy students typically graduate with?
The median debt load is $14,120, which is manageable compared to four-year colleges. With nursing starting salaries around $44,000, most graduates can handle loan payments if they complete the program and find work quickly.
Does Athena Career Academy have good graduation rates?
Only 61% of students graduate, meaning nearly 40% drop out without completing their program. This presents significant financial risk since students who don't finish still owe money but lack the credentials to access higher-paying healthcare jobs.