Certificate (1-2 years)-2% vs national median738 grads tracked
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Metropolitan Community College
Ranked 138th of 256 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$43,341
middle 50%: $33,569 – $54,121
Median · 5 years out
$56,219
middle 50%: $43,958 – $70,669
Median · 10 years out
$65,417
middle 50%: $46,722 – $82,844
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 graduates from Metropolitan Community College earn $43,341 in their first year. The median salary is $56,219 after five years.
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
≈ $8,251 total interest
Same major at other universities
Western Iowa Tech Community College
$56,895 · 5 yrs out
Kapiolani Community College
$56,768 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
$56,676 · 5 yrs out
Pine Technical and Community College
$56,363 · 5 yrs out
Central Texas College District
$56,336 · 5 yrs out
Saint Paul College - A Community & Technical College
$56,225 · 5 yrs out
Hocking Technical College
$56,192 · 5 yrs out
Indian Hills Community College
$55,935 · 5 yrs out
Anoka Technical College
$55,918 · 5 yrs out
Amarillo College
$55,825 · 5 yrs out
Lamar State College - Port Arthur
$55,796 · 5 yrs out
Lake Area Technical College
$55,653 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Metropolitan Community College
Engineering, General (Associate)
$76,913 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$75,872 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$75,689 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$74,055 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Associate)
$72,057 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$71,212 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Certificate)
$71,212 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$70,337 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$68,298 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Certificate)
$67,204 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$66,850 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Associate)
$66,726 · 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