WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)-16% vs national median830 grads tracked

Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Rend Lake College

Ranked 124th of 147 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$23,011
middle 50%: $17,837 – $28,184
Median · 5 years out
$32,328
middle 50%: $24,223 – $47,221
Median · 10 years out
$32,683
middle 50%: $24,493 – $47,856

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

Graduates of Rend Lake College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants earn a median $23,011 one year after graduating, rising to $32,683 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 16% below the national median of $38,400 for this field, ranking 124th of 147 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
15.9 yrs
≈ $19,234 total interest

Same major at other universities

Lamar Community College
$32,883 · 5 yrs out
Hennepin Technical College
$32,883 · 5 yrs out
John Wood Community College
$32,526 · 5 yrs out
Kishwaukee College
$32,497 · 5 yrs out
Sauk Valley Community College
$32,352 · 5 yrs out
Lewis and Clark Community College
$32,349 · 5 yrs out
Utah State University
$32,101 · 5 yrs out
Southwestern Illinois College
$31,989 · 5 yrs out
Snow College
$31,846 · 5 yrs out
Southwest Technical College
$31,715 · 5 yrs out
Tooele Technical College
$31,694 · 5 yrs out
Trinidad State College
$31,656 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Rend Lake College

Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$86,981 · 5 yrs out
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$86,768 · 5 yrs out
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$78,993 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural Production Operations (Certificate)
$73,728 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$72,395 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Certificate)
$65,897 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$64,930 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Associate)
$62,446 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Associate)
$62,446 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$60,696 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$60,533 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$59,934 · 5 yrs out

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