WhatGradsMake
Certificate (1-2 years)+23% vs national median1,266 grads tracked

Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Lone Star College System

Ranked 35th of 256 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$47,119
middle 50%: $36,244 – $57,299
Median · 5 years out
$70,093
middle 50%: $52,148 – $87,989
Median · 10 years out
$85,794
middle 50%: $60,384 – $107,476

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

Graduates of Lone Star College System's certificate (1-2 years) program in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants earn a median $47,119 one year after graduating, rising to $85,794 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 23% above the national median of $57,142 for this field, ranking 35th of 256 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
6.1 yrs
≈ $6,950 total interest

Same major at other universities

Northern Wyoming Community College District
$70,550 · 5 yrs out
Community College of Denver
$70,547 · 5 yrs out
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
$70,545 · 5 yrs out
City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College
$70,468 · 5 yrs out
Otero College
$70,441 · 5 yrs out
Quinsigamond Community College
$70,227 · 5 yrs out
Hostos Community College of the City University of New York
$69,751 · 5 yrs out
North Shore Community College
$69,727 · 5 yrs out
Berkshire Community College
$69,644 · 5 yrs out
Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College
$69,553 · 5 yrs out
El Paso Community College
$69,348 · 5 yrs out
Western Wyoming Community College
$69,330 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Lone Star College System

Fire Protection (Associate)
$108,135 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Certificate)
$90,782 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Certificate)
$90,782 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$88,842 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Certificate)
$87,304 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Associate)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Associate)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Certificate)
$82,784 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$81,191 · 5 yrs out
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$79,787 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$77,306 · 5 yrs out
Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$76,015 · 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