WhatGradsMake
Certificate (1-2 years)+1% vs national median118 grads tracked

Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Northwest College

Ranked 128th of 256 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$41,933
middle 50%: $30,177 – $52,232
Median · 5 years out
$57,471
middle 50%: $41,019 – $72,585
Median · 10 years out
$67,570
middle 50%: $51,828 – $89,527

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 Northwest College's certificate (1-2 years) program in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants earn a median $41,933 one year after graduating, rising to $67,570 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 1% above the national median of $57,142 for this field, ranking 128th 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
7.3 yrs
≈ $8,294 total interest

Same major at other universities

Highland Community College
$58,100 · 5 yrs out
Iowa Lakes Community College
$57,988 · 5 yrs out
Rend Lake College
$57,938 · 5 yrs out
Kankakee Community College
$57,867 · 5 yrs out
York Technical College
$57,836 · 5 yrs out
Southwestern Community College
$57,604 · 5 yrs out
Rochester Community and Technical College
$57,334 · 5 yrs out
Iowa Valley Community College District
$57,142 · 5 yrs out
Mineral Area College
$56,987 · 5 yrs out
Western Iowa Tech Community College
$56,895 · 5 yrs out
Kapiolani Community College
$56,768 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
$56,676 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Northwest College

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (Certificate)
$79,471 · 5 yrs out
Journalism (Certificate)
$79,471 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$76,015 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$73,904 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$70,641 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate)
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Associate)
$60,272 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Associate)
$60,272 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$57,471 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate)
$49,659 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$49,582 · 5 yrs out

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