Practical Nursing at Coconino Community College

Flagstaff, AZ · Public · Associate Degree · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

a smaller institution with 2,575 students in Flagstaff, AZ.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $36,719/yr fall 17% below the $44,151 national median for Practical Nursing. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 116.9x 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.

AI exposure is significant at 18% of job tasks, producing a 40% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

At $10,500 in median debt against $36,719 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #186 out of 703 programs, Coconino Community College's Practical Nursing offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $36,719 to $64,848 over five years (77% increase) indicates that graduates in this trade see meaningful salary progression.

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

76 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
70
Low End
76
Score
76
High End
Earnings $36,719/yr (-17% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$644K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
118.8x
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)
$5,424
Out-of-state: $18,984
Median Debt at Graduation
$10,500
3.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$64,848
77% 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

Other Majors at Coconino Community 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 Coconino Community College's Practical Nursing program score?
A score of 76/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Coconino Community College's Practical Nursing graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How safe is Practical Nursing from automation?
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.
How affordable is Practical Nursing at Coconino Community College?
Median debt of just $10,500 against $36,719/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Is Coconino Community College a good choice for Practical Nursing despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Coconino Community College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Practical Nursing graduates?
There are 2 registered apprenticeships connected to Practical Nursing occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
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 →