WhatGradsMake
Certificate (1-2 years)-29% vs national median286 grads tracked

Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Mountain Empire Community College

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

Median · 1 year out
$31,958
middle 50%: $24,950 – $39,548
Median · 5 years out
$40,716
middle 50%: $31,402 – $53,718
Median · 10 years out
$47,705
middle 50%: $36,903 – $65,669

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 Mountain Empire Community College's certificate (1-2 years) program in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants earn a median $31,958 one year after graduating, rising to $47,705 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 29% below the national median of $57,142 for this field, ranking 256th 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
10.3 yrs
≈ $12,269 total interest

Same major at other universities

New River Community and Technical College
$43,433 · 5 yrs out
L. E. Fletcher Technical Community College
$42,398 · 5 yrs out
Montana Technological University
$42,371 · 5 yrs out
Wytheville Community College
$42,336 · 5 yrs out
Southwest Virginia Community College
$41,297 · 5 yrs out
Belmont College
$41,169 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Mountain Empire Community College

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$64,930 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$63,309 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$61,827 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$59,216 · 5 yrs out
Natural Resources and Conservation (Associate)
$57,867 · 5 yrs out
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Associate)
$57,867 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$57,562 · 5 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Certificate)
$57,562 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$51,418 · 5 yrs out
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$50,129 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$48,694 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$47,682 · 5 yrs out

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