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Practical Nursing at Mount Wachusett Community College

Gardner, MA · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

with a smaller student body of 2,554 in Gardner, MA.

Program Analysis

At $62,720 per year, Practical Nursing graduates from Mount Wachusett Community College significantly outpace the $44,151 national average for this trade, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

The 121.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

With only 18% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, the scenario spread is tight at 10%. Career paths for Practical Nursing are among the more automation-resistant trades we analyze.

The median debt load of $12,134 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #23 out of 703 programs, Mount Wachusett Community College's Practical Nursing program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth is modest: $62,720 to $71,531 over five years (14% gain). This trade may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

Practical Nursing connects to 2 apprenticeship options. The earn-while-you-learn model can be a strong alternative or complement to a certificate program.

84 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
82
Low End
84
Score
85
High End
Earnings $62,720/yr (42% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$730K
3.3% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
121.7x
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 (In-State)
$6,000
Out-of-state: $10,920
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,134
2.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$71,531
14% 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

Explore what Practical Nursing graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 703 programs nationwide.

Read the full Practical Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Practical Nursing Overview

View all 703 schools offering Practical Nursing →

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Harmony Health Care Institute ($85,953) Schoolcraft Community College District ($75,104) Saint Michael College of Allied Health ($74,782) Otero College ($74,405) Beal University ($72,467) Unitek College ($72,368) Shawsheen Valley School of Practical Nursing ($72,230) Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School District ($67,498)

Other Majors at Mount Wachusett Community College

Nursing ($74,618) Dental Assisting ($68,670) Medical Assisting ($45,300) Medical Assisting ($44,710) Business Administration ($43,503) Business ($42,825) Computer Science ($38,975) Liberal Arts & Humanities ($28,600)

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Compare Practical Nursing degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 84/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Practical Nursing at Mount Wachusett Community College?
At 84/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
How safe is Practical Nursing from automation?
Highly resilient. Practical Nursing careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Mount Wachusett Community College graduates retain 2 of 2 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
How affordable is Practical Nursing at Mount Wachusett Community College?
Median debt of just $12,134 against $62,720/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Is Mount Wachusett Community College one of the best schools for Practical Nursing?
Ranked #23 of 703 programs nationally, Mount Wachusett Community College lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Are there apprenticeship options for Practical Nursing?
There are 2 registered apprenticeships connected to Practical Nursing occupations, such as Nurse, Licensed Practical and Nurse, Licensed Practical. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
What's the job market like for Practical Nursing from Mount Wachusett Community College?
At 258,500 annual openings, Practical Nursing has a very large employment base. Mount Wachusett Community 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 →