Practical Nursing at Donnelly College

Kansas City, KS · Private nonprofit · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

a smaller institution with 343 students in Kansas City, KS.

Program Analysis

At $49,147 per year, Practical Nursing graduates from Donnelly College earn slightly above the $44,151 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

With a 58.7x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 16% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Practical Nursing career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

The median debt load of $13,400 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

A #205 ranking among 703 Practical Nursing programs places Donnelly College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

A 20% earnings increase from $49,147 to $59,166 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

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

74 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
72
Low End
74
Score
75
High End
Earnings $49,147/yr (11% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$611K
4.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
59.0x
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
$10,350
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,400
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,166
20% 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

Explore what Practical Nursing graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 703 programs nationwide.

Read the full Practical Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Practical Nursing Overview

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 74/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Practical Nursing at Donnelly College?
A score of 74/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Donnelly College's Practical Nursing graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How safe is Practical Nursing from automation?
For Donnelly 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.
How affordable is Practical Nursing at Donnelly College?
At $13,400 in median debt, Practical Nursing graduates from Donnelly College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.3x is well below the trade program average.
Are there apprenticeship options for Practical Nursing?
The DOL recognizes 2 apprenticeship pathways related to Practical Nursing. For students weighing Donnelly College's program cost against alternatives, apprenticeships offer zero-tuition entry with paid employment from day one.
Will Practical Nursing graduates from Donnelly College find jobs?
The career paths mapped to Practical Nursing have roughly 258,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →