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Practical Nursing at Forsyth Technical Community College

Winston-Salem, NC · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

with a mid-sized student body of 6,939 in Winston-Salem, NC.

Program Analysis

Forsyth Technical Community College's Practical Nursing graduates start at $48,466/yr — above the $44,151 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 234.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Practical Nursing programs nationally.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic scenarios is just 4% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $9,500 in median debt clears fast against $48,466 in annual earnings.

At #32 of 703 nationally, this is a top-5% Practical Nursing program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $52,441 are relatively flat compared to the $48,466 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

There are 2 registered apprenticeship pathways mapped to Practical Nursing, including Nurse, Licensed Practical (median $62,340/yr). Apprenticeships offer an alternative route that combines paid work with structured training.

84 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
82
Low End
84
Score
85
High End
Earnings $48,466/yr (10% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$530K
2.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
235.1x
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)
$2,256
Out-of-state: $6,864
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,500
2.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,441
8% 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

Practical Nursing opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

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 Forsyth Technical Community College

Nursing ($68,379) Dental Assisting ($56,717) Allied Health Professions ($54,726) Criminal Justice ($48,388) Business Administration ($39,760) Vehicle Repair Technology ($39,008) Computer Science ($38,837) Medical Assisting ($35,937)

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Compare Practical Nursing degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Forsyth Technical Community College's Practical Nursing program score?
A score of 84/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Forsyth Technical Community College's Practical Nursing graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
Is Practical Nursing from Forsyth Technical Community College a future-proof career choice?
Highly resilient. Practical Nursing careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Forsyth Technical Community College graduates retain 2 of 2 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
How affordable is Practical Nursing at Forsyth Technical Community College?
At $9,500 in median debt, Practical Nursing graduates from Forsyth Technical Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
Is Forsyth Technical Community College one of the best schools for Practical Nursing?
Among 703 Practical Nursing programs, Forsyth Technical Community College's #32 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
Can I learn Practical Nursing through an apprenticeship instead of Forsyth Technical Community College?
There are 2 registered apprenticeships connected to Practical Nursing occupations, such as Nurse, Licensed Practical and Nurse, Licensed Practical. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Will Practical Nursing graduates from Forsyth Technical Community College find jobs?
At 258,500 annual openings, Practical Nursing has a very large employment base. Forsyth Technical Community College graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →