Home › North-West College-San Diego › Practical Nursing

Practical Nursing at North-West College-San Diego

San Diego, CA · Private for-profit · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

a smaller institution with 551 students in San Diego, CA.

Program Analysis

Graduates of North-West College-San Diego's Practical Nursing program earn $59,140/yr in their first year — 34% above the $44,151 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

With only 18% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, the scenario spread is tight at 0%. Career paths for Practical Nursing are among the more automation-resistant trades we analyze.

At $14,845 in median debt against $59,140 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #305 out of 703 programs, North-West College-San Diego's Practical Nursing offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

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

TradeSchoolOutlook Score

Low End

Score

High End

Earnings $59,140/yr (34% vs median)

AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)

Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings

$59K

Reported median after graduation

Viable Career Paths

2 of 2

Occupations with strong AI resilience

Median Debt at Graduation

$14,845

3.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$57,591

Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

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 North-West College-San Diego? 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 North-West College-San Diego

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does North-West College-San Diego's Practical Nursing program score?

This program scores 70/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Practical Nursing nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, hands-on AI resilience, and solid financial return.

Will AI replace Practical Nursing jobs?

AI resilience is a strength here. Only 18% of Practical Nursing tasks overlap with AI capabilities, and 2 of 2 career paths remain viable even in our most conservative scenario.

What's the typical debt for Practical Nursing graduates from North-West College-San Diego?

Median debt of just $14,845 against $59,140/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.

Are there apprenticeship options for Practical Nursing?

The DOL recognizes 2 apprenticeship pathways related to Practical Nursing. For students weighing North-West College-San Diego's program cost against alternatives, apprenticeships offer zero-tuition entry with paid employment from day one.

Will Practical Nursing graduates from North-West College-San Diego find jobs?

At 258,500 annual openings, Practical Nursing has a very large employment base. North-West College-San Diego 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 →