WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)+6% vs national median967 grads tracked

Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Minnesota West Community and Technical College

Ranked 68th of 147 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$27,569
middle 50%: $20,533 – $36,077
Median · 5 years out
$40,642
middle 50%: $24,420 – $55,778
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 (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.

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

Graduates of Minnesota West Community and Technical College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants earn a median $27,569 one year after graduating, rising to $40,642 by year five. Five years out, earnings run 6% above the national median of $38,400 for this field, ranking 68th 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
11.6 yrs
≈ $13,646 total interest

Same major at other universities

Sinclair Community College
$42,643 · 5 yrs out
Emily Griffith Technical College
$42,604 · 5 yrs out
College of Lake County
$42,208 · 5 yrs out
Dakota County Technical College
$42,146 · 5 yrs out
Elgin Community College
$41,101 · 5 yrs out
Colorado Mesa University
$40,922 · 5 yrs out
Trident Technical College
$40,568 · 5 yrs out
Riverland Community College
$39,998 · 5 yrs out
Trinity Valley Community College
$39,867 · 5 yrs out
Marion Technical College
$39,425 · 5 yrs out
Highland Community College
$39,048 · 5 yrs out
Colorado Northwestern Community College
$38,692 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Minnesota West Community and Technical College

Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$81,339 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$80,008 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$73,677 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields (Certificate)
$71,728 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural and Food Products Processing (Certificate)
$71,728 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$71,412 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields (Associate)
$66,891 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$65,835 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$65,835 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$64,916 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$63,170 · 5 yrs out

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