Certificate (under 1 year)+7% vs national median323 grads tracked
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Colorado Mesa University
Ranked 67th of 147 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$25,431
middle 50%: $19,246 – $33,272
Median · 5 years out
$40,922
middle 50%: $29,233 – $57,448
Median · 10 years out
$64,718
middle 50%: $41,863 – $86,191
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Colorado Mesa University certificate holders in Practical Nursing earn $25k in their first year. Median salaries reach $65k after a decade.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
9.8 yrs
≈ $12,728 total interest
Same major at other universities
Colorado Mountain College
$42,660 · 5 yrs out
Sinclair Community College
$42,643 · 5 yrs out
Emily Griffith Technical College
$42,604 · 5 yrs out
College of Lake County
$42,208 · 5 yrs out
Dakota County Technical College
$42,146 · 5 yrs out
Elgin Community College
$41,101 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota West Community and Technical College
$40,642 · 5 yrs out
Trident Technical College
$40,568 · 5 yrs out
Riverland Community College
$39,998 · 5 yrs out
Trinity Valley Community College
$39,867 · 5 yrs out
Marion Technical College
$39,425 · 5 yrs out
Highland Community College
$39,048 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Colorado Mesa University
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (Bachelor's)
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$89,880 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$89,103 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate)
$86,367 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Associate)
$84,259 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$84,159 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$84,159 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$78,278 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$77,273 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Bachelor's)
$76,868 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Certificate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
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