Is Pine Technical & Community College Worth It?

Pine Technical & Community College gives you a modest but manageable financial return, and the payoff depends almost entirely on which program you pick. The median debt here stays low, and most graduates borrow less than they would at a four-year school. The catch is the graduation rate: under 40% of students finish, so the risk is starting a program and leaving with debt but no credential.

Nursing is the clear winner. The associate nursing degree pays roughly $58,000 ten years out, and even the practical nursing certificate lands near $46,000 with lower debt. If you can get into and finish a nursing program here, the math works strongly in your favor. Human Services pays about $41,000, close to the school-wide median, so it holds its own but won't set you apart financially.

Allied Health and Medical Assisting is the weak spot. At under $30,000 a year, those earnings sit below what many jobs pay without any college at all. If you enroll expecting a decent return from that program, the numbers don't back you up.

The net price tiers reward lower-income families. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay a few thousand less per year than a family over $110,000, whose cost climbs past $15,000. For most working families in the region, the yearly cost stays reasonable relative to the nursing salaries on offer.

This school fits you if you want a nursing credential and plan to finish. It's a good bet for staying local, keeping debt low, and moving into a stable health job. Look elsewhere if you're drawn to medical assisting for the paycheck, or if you're unsure you'll complete the program, since the low completion rate is the biggest financial risk here.