WhatGradsMake
Certificate (1-2 years)-6% vs national median464 grads tracked

Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Southern State Community College

Ranked 166th of 256 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$40,874
middle 50%: $30,893 – $51,501
Median · 5 years out
$53,783
middle 50%: $40,342 – $67,912
Median · 10 years out
$51,929
middle 50%: $38,393 – $69,318

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

Southern State Community College offers nursing certificates with a $41k median starting salary. Year ten earnings for these graduates average $52k.

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
7.9 yrs
≈ $8,859 total interest

Same major at other universities

Tri-County Technical College
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Helena College University of Montana
$53,873 · 5 yrs out
Aiken Technical College
$53,833 · 5 yrs out
Delgado Community College
$53,819 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 6
$53,819 · 5 yrs out
Northwest Iowa Community College
$53,810 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 10
$53,724 · 5 yrs out
Saint Charles Community College
$53,724 · 5 yrs out
Hawkeye Community College
$53,677 · 5 yrs out
Central Carolina Technical College
$53,552 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 13
$53,516 · 5 yrs out
Niagara County Community College
$53,435 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Southern State Community College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$65,566 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$64,930 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$61,594 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$58,511 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$57,346 · 5 yrs out
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$53,735 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$52,354 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$51,789 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$51,789 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Analysis (Associate)
$51,223 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Associate)
$47,224 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other (Associate)
$46,435 · 5 yrs out

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