Certificate (under 1 year)+19% vs national median1,041 grads tracked
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Parkland College
Ranked 48th of 147 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$26,084
middle 50%: $20,079 – $33,686
Median · 5 years out
$45,708
middle 50%: $30,817 – $69,517
Median · 10 years out
$43,407
middle 50%: $32,272 – $65,458
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
Practical Nursing certificate graduates earn a median $26k initially. Earnings rise to $46k at year five and $43k at 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
10.6 yrs
≈ $12,612 total interest
Same major at other universities
St. Cloud Technical and Community College
$47,460 · 5 yrs out
Richland Community College
$47,460 · 5 yrs out
Arapahoe Community College
$47,308 · 5 yrs out
Red Rocks Community College
$46,810 · 5 yrs out
Clarendon College
$46,417 · 5 yrs out
Normandale Community College
$46,207 · 5 yrs out
Oakton College
$45,552 · 5 yrs out
South Texas College
$45,539 · 5 yrs out
Front Range Community College
$45,322 · 5 yrs out
Anoka Technical College
$43,948 · 5 yrs out
William Rainey Harper College
$43,936 · 5 yrs out
Joliet Junior College
$43,722 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Parkland College
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$105,907 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$75,158 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$75,158 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$71,774 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$67,042 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Certificate)
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$63,723 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$63,208 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$62,468 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Associate)
$61,926 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$60,508 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$59,120 · 5 yrs out
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