WhatGradsMake
Certificate (1-2 years)-4% vs national median642 grads tracked

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

Ranked 150th of 256 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$44,276
middle 50%: $34,630 – $54,291
Median · 5 years out
$54,937
middle 50%: $43,019 – $67,878
Median · 10 years out
$66,819
middle 50%: $48,631 – $91,987

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (certificate (1-2 years)) graduates.

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

Graduates of Dakota County Technical College's certificate (1-2 years) program in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants earn a median $44,276 one year after graduating, rising to $66,819 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 4% below the national median of $57,142 for this field, ranking 150th of 256 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
7.3 yrs
≈ $8,247 total interest

Same major at other universities

Lake Area Technical College
$55,653 · 5 yrs out
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges - Olney Central College
$55,556 · 5 yrs out
North Central Missouri College
$55,365 · 5 yrs out
Tyler Junior College
$55,283 · 5 yrs out
Uintah Basin Technical College
$55,181 · 5 yrs out
Cuyahoga Community College
$54,957 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 2
$54,796 · 5 yrs out
Southeastern Illinois College
$54,772 · 5 yrs out
South Plains College
$54,690 · 5 yrs out
Denmark Technical College
$54,485 · 5 yrs out
Itasca Community College
$54,479 · 5 yrs out
Spartanburg Community College
$54,227 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Dakota County Technical College

Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$86,929 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$86,648 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$86,150 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$85,313 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$79,314 · 5 yrs out
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$77,273 · 5 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$76,582 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$70,801 · 5 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Associate)
$66,486 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$66,266 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Certificate)
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate)
$64,645 · 5 yrs out

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