Practical Nursing at Fortis College-Norfolk

Norfolk, VA · Private for-profit · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

a compact campus enrolling 431 students in Norfolk, VA.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $50,451/yr, edging above the $44,151 national average for Practical Nursing — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

With a 40.6x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 8% 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 $15,161 in median debt against $50,451 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

A #289 ranking among 703 Practical Nursing programs places Fortis College-Norfolk in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The limited growth from $50,451 to $56,442 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

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

70 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
69
Low End
70
Score
71
High End
Earnings $50,451/yr (14% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$574K
2.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
40.8x
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
$14,083
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,161
3.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,442
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

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

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Fortis College-Norfolk

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Fortis College-Norfolk's Practical Nursing program score?
A score of 70/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Fortis College-Norfolk's Practical Nursing graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How safe is Practical Nursing from automation?
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.
Can I learn Practical Nursing through an apprenticeship instead of Fortis College-Norfolk?
Beyond Fortis College-Norfolk's classroom route, 2 registered apprenticeships map to Practical Nursing careers — including Nurse, Licensed Practical. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
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. Demand is driven by an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →