Most Practical Nursing programs take one to two years to complete. Graduates start earning $10,084 right after finishing, climbing to $39,305 four years out.
Practical Nursing is a focused area of study within Health. Graduates typically earn around $39,305 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. The program is available at 1,317 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 88,809 students complete this program each year, most earning a certificate. Training is clinical and hands-on, often leading to licensure or certification.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$10,084
Median Earnings · 4yr
$39,305
Colleges Offering
1,317
Graduates / Year
88,809
Avg Net Price / yr
$10,934
How Much Do Practical Nursing Graduates Earn?
Practical Nursing graduates earn $39,305 four years out, significantly below average for bachelor's degree holders. The middle 50% of earners fall between $22,247 and $72,381. Earnings typically jump significantly in the first few years. The one-year figure of $10,084 climbs to $39,305 by year four.
$10,084
1 Year After Graduation
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$39,305
4-Year National Median
Significantly below average. Graduate credentials or high-demand roles can raise this considerably.
$30,043
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
There is a wide earnings spread across Practical Nursing graduates. Specialization and credential level drive most of the gap. Advanced practice roles (nurse practitioners, CRNAs, physician assistants) anchor the top; entry-level clinical and support roles sit at the bottom.
$22,24725th pct.
$39,305Median
$72,38175th pct.
Understanding the Cost vs. Return
At median 4-year earnings of $39,305 and an estimated $43,736 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 4.7 years. Compare specific programs before committing to a high-cost option.
Based on outcomes from 16 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 88,809 students who complete Practical Nursing programs each year, the majority (53%) earn a certificate degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
53%44%
Certificate53%
Doctorate44%
Associate's3%
What Can You Do With a Practical Nursing Degree?
Practical Nursing connects to 2 occupations in the job market. Licensed Practical Nurse leads at $64,400/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Service OrientationSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationActive ListeningSpeaking
Day-to-day responsibilities
Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.
Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.
Measure and record patients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration.
Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients' charts.
Service OrientationActive ListeningSocial PerceptivenessMonitoringReading Comprehension
Day-to-day responsibilities
Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks. Includes nursing care attendants, nursing aides, and nursing attendants.
Turn or reposition bedridden patients.
Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs.
Feed patients or assist patients to eat or drink.
Top Colleges for Practical Nursing
The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Practical Nursing students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Practical Nursing program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Practical Nursing carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 4 strengths and 4 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.
PROS
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $10,084 at graduation to $39,305 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 258,500 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
Wide availabilityOffered at 1,317 colleges nationwide, with options at every price point and institution type.
Flexible credential pathsPrograms are available from certificate and associate levels through bachelor's and graduate degrees, giving students real options based on timeline and goals.
CONS
Below-average earningsFour-year median of $39,305 falls below the national median for bachelor's degree holders.
Licensure often requiredMost roles in this field require state licensure or certification before you can practice. Budget time and costs for board exams alongside your degree.
Slow job growthTop related careers project less than 3% growth over the next decade; limited expansion means more competition for new openings.
Highly competitive market88,809 students graduate from this program every year, one of the higher volumes nationally. Entry-level competition can be stiff.
Practical Nursing graduates earn a national median of $39,305 four years after completing their program. The middle 50% of earners fall between $22,247 and $72,381. Where you land typically depends on employer, role, and location.
What is the starting salary for a Practical Nursing degree?
One year after graduation, Practical Nursing degree holders earn a median of $10,084. That climbs to $39,305 four years out. The biggest salary jumps typically come once you move past entry-level roles.
What jobs can you get with a Practical Nursing degree?
Practical Nursing degree holders pursue careers including Licensed Practical Nurse, which pays a median of $64,400/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.
How long does a Practical Nursing program take?
Most Practical Nursing certificate programs take one to two years of full-time study. Some are available in as little as one semester at community colleges.
How many colleges offer Practical Nursing?
1,317 colleges and universities in the United States offer Practical Nursing programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.
Is a Practical Nursing degree worth it?
With a median 4-year salary of $39,305 and an average net price of roughly $10,934/yr, a Practical Nursing degree can pay off well, especially at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific programs before deciding.
What is the difference between Practical Nursing and Health?
Practical Nursing is a focused concentration within the broader Health field. The Health major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Practical Nursing-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. If you already know this is the direction you want, the specialized program gives you a more targeted credential.
What skills do employers look for in Practical Nursing graduates?
Employers hiring Practical Nursing graduates consistently prioritize clinical judgment, patient communication, and evidence-based decision-making. Licensure, certifications, and supervised clinical hours are typically required or strongly preferred in most roles.
Is graduate school worth it for Practical Nursing graduates?
In health fields, advanced degrees (nurse practitioner, physician assistant, doctor of physical therapy) typically unlock significantly higher salaries and expanded scope of practice, making graduate education a strong investment for most students. The right answer depends on your career goals, program cost, and whether your target role explicitly rewards an advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Practical Nursing graduates?
The job outlook for Practical Nursing graduates is slow overall. Related occupations project an average of +2.5% job growth over the next 10 years. Licensed Practical Nurse is among the strongest-growth roles at +2.6%. Growth varies by role and location, so check the Career Paths section for projections on each specific occupation.
Related Health Programs
Other programs in Health. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Choose a Major Pillar
A decision framework for picking a college major using your interests, aptitudes, and federal earnings data to reach a defensible choice before applying.
The real cost of a second major, when it pays back and when it doesn't, and why a focused single major with a relevant minor often beats a double major.
Why the 10-year job-growth outlook often matters more than today's salary, what the BLS projections measure, and how to use them to weigh the future of a field, not just its present.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
The Lowest-Paying Degrees, and Whether They Are Worth It
The lowest-paying college program pays a median of $28,311 four years out. Only 11 of 314 programs land below the high-school benchmark. Here is the floor.
Lowest-paying degrees
Program earnings
Worth it
Net price
Major choice
All 38 Majors, Ranked by What Graduates Earn
The highest-earning college major out-pays the lowest by a factor of two and a half. The full ranking of all 38 fields by median graduate earnings, with job growth alongside.
Major earnings
Highest paying majors
Job growth
STEM
Field of study
Does Engineering Tech Out-Earn Engineering? The Data Says No
A popular claim holds that the applied engineering-tech degree pays more than the theoretical one. Across every program, engineering wins by about $10,000.
Engineering tech
Engineering
Program earnings
Applied degree
Technician careers
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
