WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)-17% vs national median2,288 grads tracked

Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Southwestern Illinois College

Ranked 126th of 147 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$24,422
middle 50%: $18,821 – $29,951
Median · 5 years out
$31,989
middle 50%: $24,248 – $47,119
Median · 10 years out
$39,742
middle 50%: $27,353 – $61,547

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 Southwestern Illinois College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants earn a median $24,422 one year after graduating, rising to $39,742 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 17% below the national median of $38,400 for this field, ranking 126th 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
13.8 yrs
≈ $17,188 total interest

Same major at other universities

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
Rend Lake College
$32,328 · 5 yrs out
Utah State University
$32,101 · 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
Piedmont Technical College
$31,398 · 5 yrs out
Laredo College
$30,926 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Southwestern Illinois College

Fire Protection (Associate)
$99,192 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Certificate)
$80,595 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Certificate)
$72,907 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Certificate)
$72,907 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$72,441 · 5 yrs out
Carpenters (Certificate)
$70,557 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$70,365 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$69,946 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$68,650 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$68,526 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$67,570 · 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