WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)-9% vs national median348 grads tracked

Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Otero College

Ranked 99th of 147 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$26,923
middle 50%: $20,820 – $35,145
Median · 5 years out
$34,840
middle 50%: $26,115 – $55,261
Median · 10 years out
$54,238
middle 50%: $32,172 – $79,787

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

Graduates of Otero College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants earn a median $26,923 one year after graduating, rising to $54,238 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 9% below the national median of $38,400 for this field, ranking 99th of 147 reporting programs.

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
11 yrs
≈ $14,161 total interest

Same major at other universities

Kaskaskia College
$35,839 · 5 yrs out
Morton College
$35,681 · 5 yrs out
Western Iowa Tech Community College
$35,559 · 5 yrs out
Morgan Community College
$35,447 · 5 yrs out
Ogden-Weber Technical College
$35,319 · 5 yrs out
Rock Valley College
$35,122 · 5 yrs out
Eastern Shore Community College
$34,840 · 5 yrs out
Orangeburg - Calhoun Technical College
$34,840 · 5 yrs out
Cedar Valley College
$34,630 · 5 yrs out
Heartland Community College
$34,214 · 5 yrs out
Lorain County Community College
$34,136 · 5 yrs out
Indian Hills Community College
$34,119 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Otero College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$76,545 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$70,441 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$69,310 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$49,960 · 5 yrs out
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations (Certificate)
$49,399 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$49,197 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Certificate)
$49,197 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$46,845 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields (Certificate)
$45,324 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural Business and Management (Certificate)
$44,669 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$42,092 · 5 yrs out

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