Practical Nursing at Cass Career Center

Harrisonville, MO · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

Cass Career Center has a 100% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a compact campus enrolling 20 students in Harrisonville, MO.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $50,718 at Cass Career Center come in 15% above the national median of $44,151 for Practical Nursing programs.

The 7% spread between best and worst-case AI scenarios signals strong resilience. Most careers in Practical Nursing involve physical, hands-on work that current AI cannot replicate.

With first-year pay of $50,718 far exceeding the $9,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #384 ranking among 703 Practical Nursing programs places Cass Career Center in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The limited growth from $50,718 to $55,934 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

For students considering alternatives, 2 registered apprenticeship programs align with Practical Nursing careers — offering paid training instead of tuition costs.

68 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
65
Low End
68
Score
68
High End
Earnings $50,718/yr (15% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$568K
2.5% annual growth
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.

Median Debt at Graduation
$9,500
2.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,934
10% 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

About Practical Nursing Careers

Your career begins on the front lines of patient care as a nursing assistant. In a hospital or long-term care facility, your active days will be spent helping patients with essential tasks like bathing, eating, and moving safely. You’ll be a vital part of the medical team, taking blood pressure and temperature and serving as the eyes and ears for the supervising nurses.

Read the full Practical Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Practical Nursing Overview

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Explore the Degree Alternative

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Practical Nursing at Cass Career Center?
This program scores 68/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Practical Nursing programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Practical Nursing jobs?
Highly resilient. Practical Nursing careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Graduates retain 2 of 2 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
What's the typical debt for Practical Nursing graduates from Cass Career Center?
Median debt of just $9,500 against $50,718/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.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Practical Nursing graduates?
Practical Nursing connects to 2 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
Is there demand for Practical Nursing workers?
The career paths mapped to Practical Nursing have roughly 258,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →