Certificate (1-2 years)+11% vs national median345 grads tracked
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at South Central College
Ranked 79th of 256 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$38,267
middle 50%: $30,110 – $48,324
Median · 5 years out
$63,214
middle 50%: $44,039 – $81,002
Median · 10 years out
$80,763
middle 50%: $58,363 – $101,828
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
Practical Nursing certificate holders start with a median $38k. Ten-year median earnings reach $81k.
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
6.9 yrs
≈ $8,195 total interest
Same major at other universities
South Suburban College
$64,338 · 5 yrs out
Kirkwood Community College
$64,265 · 5 yrs out
Rock Valley College
$63,907 · 5 yrs out
Snow College
$63,705 · 5 yrs out
Mountain Gateway Community College
$63,318 · 5 yrs out
Pickens Technical College
$63,270 · 5 yrs out
Austin Community College
$63,177 · 5 yrs out
Lake Superior College
$62,978 · 5 yrs out
Trinidad State College
$62,631 · 5 yrs out
Alvin Community College
$62,612 · 5 yrs out
Parkland College
$62,468 · 5 yrs out
Hill College
$62,322 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at South Central College
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$76,267 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$75,918 · 5 yrs out
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$71,265 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$69,814 · 5 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate)
$67,967 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$67,365 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Associate)
$65,458 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$65,410 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural Mechanization (Certificate)
$65,410 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$64,085 · 5 yrs out
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
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