Practical Nursing at Four Rivers Career Center

Washington, MO · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

a smaller institution with 24 students in Washington, MO.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $50,931 at Four Rivers Career Center come in 15% above the national median of $44,151 for Practical Nursing programs.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 29.0x 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 0% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

With first-year pay of $50,931 far exceeding the $14,913 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #427 of 703 Practical Nursing programs, Four Rivers Career Center falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

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.

67 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
66
Low End
67
Score
67
High End
Earnings $50,931/yr (15% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings
$51K
Reported median after graduation
Earnings Multiple
29.0x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
2 of 2
Occupations with strong AI resilience
Program Tuition
$18,345
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,913
3.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,005
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

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

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Explore the Degree Alternative

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Four Rivers Career Center's Practical Nursing program score?
At 67/100, the score looks reasonable — but Practical Nursing is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
How safe is Practical Nursing from automation?
For Four Rivers Career Center 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.
What's the typical debt for Practical Nursing graduates from Four Rivers Career Center?
Median debt of just $14,913 against $50,931/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 4 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Can I learn Practical Nursing through an apprenticeship instead of Four Rivers Career Center?
The DOL recognizes 2 apprenticeship pathways related to Practical Nursing. For students weighing Four Rivers Career Center'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 Four Rivers Career Center?
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 →