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.
This page covers Practical Nursing as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Health and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Practical Nursing is a focused area of study within Health. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $39,305 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 1,317 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 88,809 students complete it each year, most walking away with 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?
Four years after finishing Practical Nursing, a typical graduate earns $39,305, significantly below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $22,247 and $72,381, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $10,084 at one year out to $39,305 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
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
Not every Practical Nursing graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. 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?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Practical Nursing graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and Licensed Practical Nurse pays the most at $64,400/yr median. Expand any card below 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
Not sure where to study Practical Nursing? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Practical Nursing graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Health Programs
Practical Nursing is not the only path through Health: 30 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
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 248,000 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.
Highly competitive market88,809 students graduate from this program every year, one of the higher volumes nationally. Entry-level competition can be stiff.
High earnings varianceGap between 25th ($22,247) and 75th ($72,381) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.
$39,305 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $22,247 and $72,381, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Practical Nursing degree?
$10,084 in the first year out. That grows to $39,305 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Practical Nursing degree?
Licensed Practical Nurse is one path, and it pays a median of $64,400 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Practical Nursing program take?
One to two years of full-time study for most Practical Nursing certificates, and some community colleges get you through in a single semester. That makes it one of the fastest ways into the field.
How many colleges offer Practical Nursing?
1,317 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Practical Nursing degree worth it?
$39,305 median earnings four years out against $10,934 a year in average net price. That is a slow payback, so cost matters more than usual here: a cheaper school changes the answer. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Practical Nursing and Health?
Practical Nursing is the narrower of the two: Health covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Practical Nursing-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Practical Nursing graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Practical Nursing graduates consistently look for clinical judgment, patient communication, and evidence-based decision-making. Licensure, certifications, and supervised clinical hours are typically required or strongly preferred in most roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Practical Nursing graduates?
Often, yes. Advanced degrees in this field (nurse practitioner, physician assistant, doctor of physical therapy) typically come with significantly higher pay and a wider scope of practice, which is why most students in health fields eventually go back for one. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Practical Nursing graduates?
Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average +2.8% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Licensed Practical Nurse is among the strongest-growth roles at +3.0%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
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