A nursing program at the unpretentious Delaware County Technical School in Broomall could be the future of higher education, writes Avi Wolfman for WHYY.org.

The Delaware County Technical Schools Practical Nursing Program is a cheaper alternative to a standard college education and could mean quicker middle class success to its students.

The Nursing Program trains students relatively quickly to become licensed practical nurses.

Tuition is about $16,000, $18,000 with books and fees.  About 85 percent of students are eligible for federal Pell Grants.

LPN demand is high right now in retirement centers and long-term care facilities.

Chuka Osakwa of Nigeria, now settled in Upper Darby, needed a quick and valuable education for a career that would help him support parents back in Africa and his wife and children here.

He sees a pathway to a worthwhile career.

“I want to create a life for myself that I’ll be proud of,” Osakwa said.

Programs similar to Delaware County’s are scattered around the country. Full time students can finish in a year with minimal admission requirements.

LPNs in Pennsylvania make, on average, $48,120 a year, an average of $55,360 in the Philadelphia region.

Read more about the appeal of this Delaware County nursing program here.

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