Practical Nursing at Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, KS · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

with a mid-sized student body of 10,634 in Overland Park, KS.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $36,404 place Johnson County Community College below the $44,151 national median for Practical Nursing — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

With a 204.9x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 21% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Practical Nursing career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

With first-year pay of $36,404 far exceeding the $8,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Johnson County Community College ranks #148 among 703 Practical Nursing programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

A 26% earnings increase from $36,404 to $46,046 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

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

78 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
76
Low End
78
Score
79
High End
Earnings $36,404/yr (-18% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$481K
6.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
206.6x
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)
$2,328
Out-of-state: $5,472
Median Debt at Graduation
$8,000
2.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,046
26% 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

What can you do with a Practical Nursing credential from Johnson County Community College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Practical Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Practical Nursing Overview

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Johnson County Community College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 78/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Practical Nursing at Johnson County Community College?
A score of 78/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Johnson County Community College's Practical Nursing graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
Is Practical Nursing from Johnson County 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. Johnson County Community College graduates retain 2 of 2 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
What's the typical debt for Practical Nursing graduates from Johnson County Community College?
Median debt of just $8,000 against $36,404/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.
Why does Johnson County Community College rank so high for Practical Nursing?
Ranked #148 of 703 programs nationally, Johnson County Community College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Is Johnson County Community College a good choice for Practical Nursing despite lower starting pay?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Can I learn Practical Nursing through an apprenticeship instead of Johnson County Community College?
If Johnson County Community College's tuition gives you pause, consider that 2 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Practical Nursing. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
Is there demand for Practical Nursing workers?
Job availability for Practical Nursing is strong — 258,500 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Johnson County Community College graduates specifically, local market conditions in KS may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →