WhatGradsMake
Certificate (1-2 years)+1% vs national median707 grads tracked

Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Southwestern Community College

Ranked 127th of 256 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$35,131
middle 50%: $26,809 – $44,452
Median · 5 years out
$57,604
middle 50%: $44,754 – $68,507
Median · 10 years out
$63,366
middle 50%: $48,848 – $76,812

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

Graduates of Southwestern Community College's certificate (1-2 years) program in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants earn a median $35,131 one year after graduating, rising to $63,366 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 1% above the national median of $57,142 for this field, ranking 127th of 256 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
7.7 yrs
≈ $9,094 total interest

Same major at other universities

Northeastern Junior College
$58,249 · 5 yrs out
Highland Community College
$58,100 · 5 yrs out
Iowa Lakes Community College
$57,988 · 5 yrs out
Rend Lake College
$57,938 · 5 yrs out
Kankakee Community College
$57,867 · 5 yrs out
York Technical College
$57,836 · 5 yrs out
Northwest College
$57,471 · 5 yrs out
Rochester Community and Technical College
$57,334 · 5 yrs out
Iowa Valley Community College District
$57,142 · 5 yrs out
Mineral Area College
$56,987 · 5 yrs out
Western Iowa Tech Community College
$56,895 · 5 yrs out
Kapiolani Community College
$56,768 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Southwestern Community College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$65,511 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$64,655 · 5 yrs out
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$59,187 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$56,938 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$55,746 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Associate)
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields (Associate)
$52,165 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$50,477 · 5 yrs out
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$50,311 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$49,171 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$48,487 · 5 yrs out
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$47,616 · 5 yrs out

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