Practical Nursing at Butte College

Oroville, CA · Public · Associate Degree · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

enrolling 8,384 students in Oroville, CA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $65,467 put Butte College's Practical Nursing program 48% above the national median of $44,151 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

The 256.3x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

With only 18% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, the scenario spread is tight at 0%. Career paths for Practical Nursing are among the more automation-resistant trades we analyze.

With first-year pay of $65,467 far exceeding the $11,824 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #1 ranking out of 703 programs puts Butte College in the top 1% for Practical Nursing. By our composite measure, very few programs deliver stronger results.

Practical Nursing connects to 2 apprenticeship options. The earn-while-you-learn model can be a strong alternative or complement to a certificate program.

88 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
85
Low End
88
Score
88
High End
Earnings $65,467/yr (48% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$685K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
256.3x
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 (In-State)
$2,672
Out-of-state: $16,832
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,824
2.2 months of Year 1 earnings

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 Butte 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 Butte College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Butte College's Practical Nursing program score?
This program scores 88/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Practical Nursing nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, hands-on AI resilience, and solid financial return.
How AI-proof is a career in Practical Nursing?
For Butte College graduates, AI risk is minimal. Practical Nursing rated "AI-Proof" — 82% of the work involves hands-on skills that current AI simply can't perform.
What's the typical debt for Practical Nursing graduates from Butte College?
Median debt of just $11,824 against $65,467/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Is Butte College one of the best schools for Practical Nursing?
The #1 ranking out of 703 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
Are there apprenticeship options for Practical Nursing?
Beyond Butte 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.
Is there demand for Practical Nursing workers?
Job availability for Practical Nursing is strong — 258,500 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Butte College graduates specifically, local market conditions in CA may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →