WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)-9% vs national median2,889 grads tracked

Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Rock Valley College

Ranked 98th of 147 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$25,984
middle 50%: $19,806 – $33,167
Median · 5 years out
$35,122
middle 50%: $26,210 – $54,663
Median · 10 years out
$48,574
middle 50%: $32,704 – $70,457

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 Rock Valley College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants earn a median $25,984 one year after graduating, rising to $48,574 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 9% below the national median of $38,400 for this field, ranking 98th 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
11.7 yrs
≈ $14,727 total interest

Same major at other universities

Spartanburg Community College
$35,840 · 5 yrs out
Kaskaskia College
$35,839 · 5 yrs out
Morton College
$35,681 · 5 yrs out
Western Iowa Tech Community College
$35,559 · 5 yrs out
Morgan Community College
$35,447 · 5 yrs out
Ogden-Weber Technical College
$35,319 · 5 yrs out
Otero College
$34,840 · 5 yrs out
Eastern Shore Community College
$34,840 · 5 yrs out
Orangeburg - Calhoun Technical College
$34,840 · 5 yrs out
Cedar Valley College
$34,630 · 5 yrs out
Heartland Community College
$34,214 · 5 yrs out
Lorain County Community College
$34,136 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Rock Valley College

Construction Trades (Associate)
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$96,422 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Certificate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Certificate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$74,260 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$73,728 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$72,966 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$71,961 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$70,489 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$69,834 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$69,154 · 5 yrs out

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