Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
Offered at 1,304 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 1,204 | $49,693 | $58,486 | $15,250 |
| Associate | 90 | $57,106 | $60,679 | $24,163 |
| Bachelor's | 6 | $18,423 | $31,982 | $15,000 |
| Post-bacc certificate | 1 | — | — | — |
| Professional | 1 | — | — | — |
| Graduate certificate | 2 | — | — | — |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
One year after finishing, a typical certificate program in this field reports median earnings of $49,693, versus $18,423 for a typical bachelor's program.
Highest-earning certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monroe University | NY | $56,363 | $108,433 | $13,100 |
| 2 | Riverside City College | CA | — | $98,180 | $8,182 |
| 3 | Kapiolani Community College | HI | — | $94,228 | — |
| 4 | Quincy College | MA | — | $91,816 | — |
| 5 | Holyoke Community College | MA | — | $90,364 | — |
| 6 | The College of Health Care Professions-Northwest | TX | — | $90,231 | $23,932 |
| 7 | The College of Health Care Professions-Southwest Houston | TX | — | $90,231 | $23,932 |
| 8 | The College of Health Care Professions-San Antonio | TX | — | $90,231 | $23,932 |
| 9 | Unitek College | CA | $78,983 | $89,229 | $16,589 |
| 10 | Unitek College | CA | $78,983 | $89,229 | $16,589 |
| 11 | Unitek College | CA | $69,801 | $88,473 | $17,900 |
| 12 | Shawsheen Valley School of Practical Nursing | MA | $79,295 | $88,296 | $7,878 |
| 13 | Bunker Hill Community College | MA | — | $87,739 | — |
| 14 | Angeles College | CA | $55,679 | $87,150 | $20,000 |
| 15 | CUNY LaGuardia Community College | NY | $70,065 | $86,443 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning associate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carrington College-Sacramento | CA | $70,686 | $109,776 | $35,286 |
| 2 | Carrington College-San Jose | CA | $70,686 | $109,776 | $35,286 |
| 3 | Gavilan College | CA | — | $104,637 | — |
| 4 | Unitek College | CA | $72,818 | $102,404 | $26,008 |
| 5 | Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts | CA | $66,307 | $81,000 | $27,816 |
| 6 | Beal University | ME | $75,752 | — | $30,791 |
| 7 | High Desert Medical College | CA | $72,536 | — | $29,320 |
| 8 | Lassen Community College | CA | $70,490 | — | — |
| 9 | Dickinson State University | ND | — | $67,763 | $13,000 |
| 10 | Pacific College | CA | $54,755 | $67,140 | $25,469 |
| 11 | Grayson College | TX | — | $65,902 | — |
| 12 | Butte College | CA | $63,366 | — | — |
| 13 | Flathead Valley Community College | MT | — | $62,653 | — |
| 14 | Coconino Community College | AZ | $45,172 | $61,905 | $13,700 |
| 15 | San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia | CA | $57,680 | $61,754 | $21,107 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus | PR | $33,430 | $44,987 | $44,100 |
| 2 | Caribbean University-Bayamon | PR | $18,423 | $31,982 | $15,000 |
| 3 | Caribbean University-Carolina | PR | $18,423 | $31,982 | $15,000 |
| 4 | Caribbean University-Ponce | PR | $18,423 | $31,982 | $15,000 |
| 5 | Caribbean University-Vega Baja | PR | $18,423 | $31,982 | $15,000 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning post-bacc certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Johns River State College | FL | — | $55,169 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
Quick answers
- How much do practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants graduates earn?
- One year after finishing, a typical bachelor's program in practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants reports median earnings of $18,423. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field of study data.
