Practical Nursing at Meridian Community College

First-year earnings of $34,111 place Meridian Community College below the $44,151 national median for Practical Nursing — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 95.3x 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 5% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

With first-year pay of $34,111 far exceeding the $6,126 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #225 of 703 Practical Nursing programs, Meridian Community College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $37,126 are relatively flat compared to the $34,111 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.