Certificate (1-2 years)+23% vs national median391 grads tracked
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College
Ranked 32nd of 256 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$54,211
middle 50%: $40,697 – $69,898
Median · 5 years out
$70,468
middle 50%: $53,485 – $87,772
Median · 10 years out
$77,465
middle 50%: $59,647 – $97,412
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
Nursing certificate graduates earn a median of $54k in their first year. Salaries reach $77k by the tenth year.
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
5.8 yrs
≈ $6,362 total interest
Same major at other universities
Kishwaukee College
$71,633 · 5 yrs out
College Of DuPage
$71,060 · 5 yrs out
CUNY LaGuardia Community College
$70,709 · 5 yrs out
Northern Wyoming Community College District
$70,550 · 5 yrs out
Community College of Denver
$70,547 · 5 yrs out
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
$70,545 · 5 yrs out
Otero College
$70,441 · 5 yrs out
Quinsigamond Community College
$70,227 · 5 yrs out
Lone Star College System
$70,093 · 5 yrs out
Hostos Community College of the City University of New York
$69,751 · 5 yrs out
North Shore Community College
$69,727 · 5 yrs out
Berkshire Community College
$69,644 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$133,179 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$101,225 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$91,221 · 5 yrs out
Plumbing and Related Water Supply Services (Certificate)
$91,099 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$67,872 · 5 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate)
$66,599 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$65,273 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate)
$60,837 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Certificate)
$57,867 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Certificate)
$53,485 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$49,855 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$49,855 · 5 yrs out
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