Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants programs
CIP 5139 · Health Professions & Clinical Sciences · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
32 institutions report graduate earnings for Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $57,735 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27× and 78% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 1 of the 33 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY Medgar Evers CollegeNY · UG cert | $83,108 n=16 | — | — | — | Above +118% | — |
| 2 | Colorado Mesa UniversityCO · UG cert | $73,377 n=79 | — | $19,250 | 0.26× | Above +76% | — |
| 3 | Vermont State UniversityVT · UG cert | $72,235 n=162 | 95% | $9,500 | 0.13× | Above +85% | Clears 2/2 |
| 4 | Herzing University-BrookfieldWI · UG cert | $71,753 n=79 | 88% 5yr | $14,375 | 0.20× | Above +84% | Clears 2/2 |
| 5 | Herzing University-KenoshaWI · UG cert | $71,753 n=79 | 88% 5yr | $14,375 | 0.20× | Above +84% | Clears 2/2 |
| 6 | Dickinson State UniversityND · Associate | $69,015 n=35 | 97% 5yr | $16,311 | 0.24× | Above +68% | Clears 2/2 |
| 7 | Schreiner UniversityTX · UG cert | $65,603 n=22 | — | $14,250 | 0.22× | Above +83% | — |
| 8 | Galen College of Nursing-LouisvilleKY · UG cert | $64,240 n=565 | 48% | $15,800 | 0.25× | Above +85% | Clears 2/2 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusPA · UG cert | $63,384 n=91 | 65% | $17,273 | 0.27× | Above +68% | — |
| 10 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AbingtonPA · UG cert | $63,384 n=91 | 65% | $17,273 | 0.27× | Above +68% | Clears 2/2 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend CollegePA · UG cert | $63,384 n=91 | 65% | $17,273 | 0.27× | Above +68% | — |
| 12 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State ScrantonPA · UG cert | $63,384 n=91 | 65% | $17,273 | 0.27× | Above +68% | — |
| 13 | Pennsylvania State University-World CampusPA · UG cert | $63,384 n=91 | 65% | $17,273 | 0.27× | Above +68% | Clears 2/2 |
| 14 | The Chicago School at Los AngelesCA · UG cert | $63,041 n=64 | 88% 5yr | $19,125 | 0.30× | Above +64% | Clears 2/2 |
| 15 | National American University-Rapid CitySD · UG cert | $62,235 n=240 | 75% 1yr | $16,625 | 0.27× | Above +69% | — |
| 16 | Davenport UniversityMI · UG cert | $59,817 n=37 | 90% 5yr | $16,562 | 0.28× | Above +71% | Clears 2/2 |
| 17 | Hannibal-LaGrange UniversityMO · UG cert | $57,735 n=18 | 96% 1yr | $9,500 | 0.17× | Above +61% | — |
| 18 | Berkeley College-Woodland ParkNJ · UG cert | $56,281 n=124 | 67% | $16,500 | 0.29× | Above +41% | Below 1/2 |
| 19 | Idaho State UniversityID · UG cert | $56,002 n=43 | 93% 5yr | $16,023 | 0.29× | Above +57% | Clears 2/2 |
| 20 | College of Saint MaryNE · UG cert | $55,697 n=20 | — | $9,500 | 0.17× | Above +50% | — |
| 21 | Northern Michigan UniversityMI · UG cert | $52,665 n=41 | 86% 5yr | $17,500 | 0.33× | Above +50% | Clears 2/2 |
| 22 | SUNY College of Technology at CantonNY · UG cert | $52,252 n=28 | 85% 5yr | $13,359 | 0.26× | Above +37% | Clears 2/2 |
| 23 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-MetroPR · Associate | $51,631 n=36 | — | $13,666 | 0.27× | Above +214% | — |
| 24 | Dalton State CollegeGA · UG cert | $51,094 n=33 | 96% 5yr | $9,007 | 0.18× | Above +45% | Clears 2/2 |
| 25 | Washburn UniversityKS · UG cert | $48,940 n=100 | 88% 5yr | $9,750 | 0.20× | Above +34% | Clears 2/2 |
| 26 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo CampusPR · Bachelor's | $42,444 n=421 | 26% | $28,798 | 0.68× | Above +158% | Clears 2/2 |
| 27 | Brookline College-AlbuquerqueNM · UG cert | $37,074 n=137 | 71% | $9,491 | 0.26× | Above +14% | Below 1/2 |
| 28 | Caribbean University-CarolinaPR · Bachelor's | $30,043 n=41 | 78% | $15,250 | 0.51× | Above +83% | Clears 2/2 |
| 29 | Caribbean University-PoncePR · Bachelor's | $30,043 n=41 | 78% | $15,250 | 0.51× | Above +83% | Clears 2/2 |
| 30 | Caribbean University-Vega BajaPR · Bachelor's | $30,043 n=41 | 78% | $15,250 | 0.51× | Above +83% | Clears 2/2 |
| 31 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo CampusPR · Associate | $23,318 n=44 | — | $8,100 | 0.35× | Above +42% | — |
| 32 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey CampusPR · UG cert | $18,834 n=61 | 27% 5yr | $6,354 | 0.34× | Above +15% | Clears 2/2 |
| 33 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina CampusPR · UG cert | $14,988 n=44 | — | $5,750 | 0.38× | Below -9% | Below 1/2 |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years — the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $63,384 | 5 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,043 | 8 |
States with at least 3 reporting Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants programs in this dataset are CUNY Medgar Evers College ($83,108), Colorado Mesa University ($73,377), Vermont State University ($72,235). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 1 of the 33 Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.