Practical Nursing at Manhattan Area Technical College

Manhattan, KS · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

a compact campus enrolling 328 students in Manhattan, KS.

Program Analysis

At $32,624 per year, Practical Nursing graduates from Manhattan Area Technical College earn below the $44,151 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

With a 60.7x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

Career paths for Practical Nursing carry above-average AI exposure (18% of tasks). The 40% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.

The median debt load of $9,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

A #467 ranking among 703 Practical Nursing programs places Manhattan Area Technical College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $32,624-to-$62,156 earnings arc over five years reflects a 91% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

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

66 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
60
Low End
66
Score
67
High End
Earnings $32,624/yr (-26% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$573K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
61.7x
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
$9,276
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,500
3.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,156
91% 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 Manhattan Area Technical 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 Manhattan Area Technical College

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 Manhattan Area Technical College?
A score of 66/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Manhattan Area Technical College trails the majority of Practical Nursing programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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.
How affordable is Practical Nursing at Manhattan Area Technical College?
At $9,500 in median debt, Practical Nursing graduates from Manhattan Area Technical College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.3x is well below the trade program average.
Is Manhattan Area Technical College a good choice for Practical Nursing despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Manhattan Area Technical College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Are there apprenticeship options for Practical Nursing?
The DOL recognizes 2 apprenticeship pathways related to Practical Nursing. For students weighing Manhattan Area Technical College's program cost against alternatives, apprenticeships offer zero-tuition entry with paid employment from day one.
Is there demand for Practical Nursing workers?
At 258,500 annual openings, Practical Nursing has a very large employment base. Manhattan Area Technical 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 →