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Practical Nursing at Durham Technical Community College

Durham, NC · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

a compact campus enrolling 3,195 students in Durham, NC.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $46,533/yr, edging above the $44,151 national average for Practical Nursing — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

With a 245.1x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 0% 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.

At $10,500 in median debt against $46,533 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Durham Technical Community College ranks #30 among 703 Practical Nursing programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

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

84 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
81
Low End
84
Score
84
High End
Earnings $46,533/yr (5% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$487K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
245.1x
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)
$1,986
Out-of-state: $6,594
Median Debt at Graduation
$10,500
2.7 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 Durham Technical Community College and 702 other schools.

Read the full Practical Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Practical Nursing Overview

View all 703 schools offering Practical Nursing →

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Harmony Health Care Institute ($85,953) Schoolcraft Community College District ($75,104) Saint Michael College of Allied Health ($74,782) Otero College ($74,405) Beal University ($72,467) Unitek College ($72,368) Shawsheen Valley School of Practical Nursing ($72,230) Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School District ($67,498)

Other Majors at Durham Technical Community College

Health Administration ($70,267) Nursing ($66,430) Ophthalmic & Optometric Services ($61,860) Criminal Justice ($49,893) Computer Science ($46,966) Computer Science ($45,847) Health Administration ($38,041) Teacher Education ($33,260)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Practical Nursing degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Durham Technical Community College's Practical Nursing program score?
A score of 84/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Durham Technical Community College's Practical Nursing graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How AI-proof is a career in Practical Nursing?
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's the typical debt for Practical Nursing graduates from Durham Technical Community College?
Median debt of just $10,500 against $46,533/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.
What makes Durham Technical Community College's Practical Nursing program stand out?
Ranked #30 of 703 programs nationally, Durham Technical Community College lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Can I learn Practical Nursing through an apprenticeship instead of Durham Technical Community College?
The DOL recognizes 2 apprenticeship pathways related to Practical Nursing. For students weighing Durham Technical Community College's program cost against alternatives, apprenticeships offer zero-tuition entry with paid employment from day one.
What's the job market like for Practical Nursing from Durham Technical Community College?
The very large job market (258,500 annual openings) works in favor of Practical Nursing graduates. The national outlook is driven by an aging population and expanding healthcare access, though regional variation matters.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →