Practical Nursing at ATA College

Louisville, KY · Private for-profit · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

with a smaller student body of 337 in Louisville, KY.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $41,553 track close to the $44,151 national median for Practical Nursing programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 38.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Practical Nursing programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Practical Nursing's career paths, with 18% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 20% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,917 represents roughly 7 months of the $41,553 starting salary — a manageable burden by trade school standards.

Ranked #500 of 703 Practical Nursing programs, ATA College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $41,553 to $52,095 over five years — a 25% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

There are 2 registered apprenticeship pathways mapped to Practical Nursing, including Nurse, Licensed Practical (median $62,340/yr). Apprenticeships offer an alternative route that combines paid work with structured training.

66 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
64
Low End
66
Score
67
High End
Earnings $41,553/yr (-6% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$543K
5.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
39.0x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
2 of 2
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition
$13,930
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,917
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,095
25% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Practical Nursing graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses $62,340 +2.6% 75%
Nursing assistants $39,530 +2.3% 90%
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
$62,340
+2.6% growth 75% AI-proof
Nursing assistants
$39,530
+2.3% growth 90% AI-proof

Practical Nursing Career Guide

See the full career breakdown for Practical Nursing — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from ATA College and 702 other schools.

Read the full Practical Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Practical Nursing Overview

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at ATA College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does ATA College's Practical Nursing program score?
A score of 66/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but ATA College trails the majority of Practical Nursing programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Is Practical Nursing from ATA College a future-proof career choice?
Practical Nursing rates as "AI-Proof" for AI resilience. With only 18% of tasks exposed to automation, the trade's physical demands provide a natural shield against AI displacement.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Practical Nursing graduates?
Beyond ATA College's classroom route, 2 registered apprenticeships map to Practical Nursing careers — including Nurse, Licensed Practical. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
Will Practical Nursing graduates from ATA College find jobs?
At 258,500 annual openings, Practical Nursing has a very large employment base. ATA College graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →