Certificate (1-2 years)-9% vs national median809 grads tracked
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Columbus State Community College
Ranked 184th of 256 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$41,159
middle 50%: $30,718 – $51,211
Median · 5 years out
$52,259
middle 50%: $40,651 – $66,924
Median · 10 years out
$61,135
middle 50%: $48,422 – $77,963
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
Nursing certificate graduates earn a median of $41k in their first year. Earnings rise to $52k by year five and $61k by year ten.
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
7.8 yrs
≈ $8,900 total interest
Same major at other universities
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 5
$52,959 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 4
$52,829 · 5 yrs out
Piedmont Virginia Community College
$52,711 · 5 yrs out
Cincinnati State Technical & Community College
$52,656 · 5 yrs out
Piedmont Technical College
$52,636 · 5 yrs out
Orangeburg - Calhoun Technical College
$52,276 · 5 yrs out
Williamsburg Technical College
$52,165 · 5 yrs out
Vernon College
$52,165 · 5 yrs out
Sauk Valley Community College
$52,107 · 5 yrs out
Laurel Ridge Community College
$51,956 · 5 yrs out
Baton Rouge Community College
$51,576 · 5 yrs out
University of Montana (The)
$51,480 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Columbus State Community College
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Certificate)
$89,645 · 5 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$78,977 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Certificate)
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Certificate)
$74,924 · 5 yrs out
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (Certificate)
$74,391 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$72,211 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$71,728 · 5 yrs out
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (Associate)
$71,467 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$70,870 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$70,698 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (Certificate)
$68,521 · 5 yrs out
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