Practical Nursing at North Central Missouri College

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

a smaller institution with 1,198 students in Trenton, MO.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $59,889 put North Central Missouri College's Practical Nursing program 36% above the national median of $44,151 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

With a 126.6x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 0% spread between best and worst-case AI scenarios signals strong resilience. Most careers in Practical Nursing involve physical, hands-on work that current AI cannot replicate.

With first-year pay of $59,889 far exceeding the $10,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

North Central Missouri College ranks #26 among 703 Practical Nursing programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

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

84 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
82
Low End
84
Score
85
High End
Earnings $59,889/yr (36% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$627K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
126.6x
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)
$4,950
Out-of-state: $8,250
Median Debt at Graduation
$10,500
2.1 months of Year 1 earnings

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

About Practical Nursing Careers

Your career begins on the front lines of patient care as a nursing assistant. In a hospital or long-term care facility, your active days will be spent helping patients with essential tasks like bathing, eating, and moving safely. You’ll be a vital part of the medical team, taking blood pressure and temperature and serving as the eyes and ears for the supervising nurses.

Read the full Practical Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Practical Nursing Overview

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at North Central Missouri College

Explore the Degree Alternative

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does North Central Missouri College's Practical Nursing program score?
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?
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 North Central Missouri College?
Median debt of just $10,500 against $59,889/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.
What makes North Central Missouri College's Practical Nursing program stand out?
The #26 ranking out of 703 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Practical Nursing graduates?
Practical Nursing connects to 2 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
How many job openings are there for Practical Nursing graduates?
With approximately 258,500 annual openings across mapped careers, Practical Nursing offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →