Certificate (1-2 years)+32% vs national median812 grads tracked
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Elgin Community College
Ranked 12th of 256 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$36,151
middle 50%: $26,307 – $50,667
Median · 5 years out
$75,598
middle 50%: $59,476 – $89,907
Median · 10 years out
$85,801
middle 50%: $64,749 – $108,822
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
Elgin Community College nursing certificate holders earn $36k in their first year. Median earnings reach $86k after ten years.
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
6.3 yrs
≈ $7,616 total interest
Same major at other universities
Blue Mountain Community College
$80,258 · 5 yrs out
Columbia Gorge Community College
$79,271 · 5 yrs out
Roxbury Community College
$79,157 · 5 yrs out
Morton College
$77,482 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Westchester Community College
$76,554 · 5 yrs out
Moraine Valley Community College
$75,672 · 5 yrs out
William Rainey Harper College
$75,192 · 5 yrs out
Northern Essex Community College
$74,586 · 5 yrs out
Massachusetts Bay Community College
$74,144 · 5 yrs out
Colorado Northwestern Community College
$73,728 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Bronx Community College
$73,565 · 5 yrs out
Joliet Junior College
$73,362 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Elgin Community College
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$79,834 · 5 yrs out
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$76,251 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$75,786 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$75,752 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$72,585 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$69,841 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate)
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$68,521 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$68,521 · 5 yrs out
Science Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$67,887 · 5 yrs out
Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$67,887 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$67,050 · 5 yrs out
Related fields of study
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
Compare universities
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
Compare universities
Alternative and Complementary Medical Support Services
Compare universities
Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems
Compare universities
Chiropractic
Compare universities
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
Compare universities