WhatGradsMake
Associate-1% vs national median201 grads tracked

Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Dakota County Technical College

Ranked 13th of 21 associate programs in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$42,081
middle 50%: $33,433 – $51,161
Median · 5 years out
$58,799
middle 50%: $44,624 – $73,785
Median · 10 years out
n/a
not enough graduates to report

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (associate) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Nursing associate degree graduates at this Minnesota college earn $42k in their first year. This grows to a median of $59k after five years of employment.

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
7.3 yrs
≈ $8,210 total interest

Same major at other universities

Other majors at Dakota County Technical College

Related fields of study