Practical Nursing at Fortis College-Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge, LA · Private for-profit · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

a smaller institution with 461 students in Baton Rouge, LA.

Program Analysis

At $45,996/yr, Practical Nursing graduates from Fortis College-Baton Rouge land near the $44,151 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 32.3x 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 8% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

The median debt load of $17,667 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #494 of 703 Practical Nursing programs, Fortis College-Baton Rouge falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $51,539 are relatively flat compared to the $45,996 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.

66 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
65
Low End
66
Score
67
High End
Earnings $45,996/yr (4% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$525K
2.9% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
32.4x
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
$16,167
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,667
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,539
12% 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 Fortis College-Baton Rouge

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 is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Practical Nursing at Fortis College-Baton Rouge?
A score of 66/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Fortis College-Baton Rouge trails the majority of Practical Nursing programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Will AI replace Practical Nursing jobs?
This is one of the more automation-resistant trades. Practical Nursing work requires physical skill and on-site presence — qualities AI cannot provide. Our model rates it "AI-Proof" overall.
Can I learn Practical Nursing through an apprenticeship instead?
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.
How many job openings are there for Practical Nursing graduates?
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 →