Certificate (1-2 years)-4% vs national median1,245 grads tracked
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at South Plains College
Ranked 153rd of 256 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$46,008
middle 50%: $38,129 – $55,865
Median · 5 years out
$54,690
middle 50%: $43,086 – $69,413
Median · 10 years out
$63,140
middle 50%: $47,687 – $82,826
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 $46k in their first year. Median earnings reach $63k by year 10.
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
≈ $8,092 total interest
Same major at other universities
Tyler Junior College
$55,283 · 5 yrs out
Uintah Basin Technical College
$55,181 · 5 yrs out
Cuyahoga Community College
$54,957 · 5 yrs out
Dakota County Technical College
$54,937 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 2
$54,796 · 5 yrs out
Southeastern Illinois College
$54,772 · 5 yrs out
Denmark Technical College
$54,485 · 5 yrs out
Itasca Community College
$54,479 · 5 yrs out
Spartanburg Community College
$54,227 · 5 yrs out
McLennan Community College
$54,205 · 5 yrs out
Horry - Georgetown Technical College
$54,124 · 5 yrs out
Iowa Central Community College
$54,087 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at South Plains College
Engineering (Associate)
$90,582 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$90,582 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$87,772 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$87,772 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$86,981 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$86,981 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$81,251 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$78,278 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$72,172 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate)
$70,298 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$67,403 · 5 yrs out
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$66,891 · 5 yrs out
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