Certificate (1-2 years)-6% vs national median597 grads tracked
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Northwest Iowa Community College
Ranked 165th of 256 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$33,449
middle 50%: $26,343 – $41,695
Median · 5 years out
$53,810
middle 50%: $41,795 – $64,589
Median · 10 years out
$59,933
middle 50%: $43,452 – $74,478
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (certificate (1-2 years)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Practical Nursing graduates start with a median salary of $33k. Earnings grow to $54k by year five and reach $60k by year ten.
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
8.2 yrs
≈ $9,739 total interest
Same major at other universities
Iowa Central Community College
$54,087 · 5 yrs out
Tri-County Technical College
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Helena College University of Montana
$53,873 · 5 yrs out
Aiken Technical College
$53,833 · 5 yrs out
Delgado Community College
$53,819 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 6
$53,819 · 5 yrs out
Southern State Community College
$53,783 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 10
$53,724 · 5 yrs out
Saint Charles Community College
$53,724 · 5 yrs out
Hawkeye Community College
$53,677 · 5 yrs out
Central Carolina Technical College
$53,552 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 13
$53,516 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Northwest Iowa Community College
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$92,609 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$90,985 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$89,353 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$89,089 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$82,929 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$80,606 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$67,487 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$60,493 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$58,065 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$55,837 · 5 yrs out
Transportation and Materials Moving (Certificate)
$55,464 · 5 yrs out
Ground Transportation (Certificate)
$55,464 · 5 yrs out
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