Practical Nursing at Northern Career Institute

Eastlake, OH · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

a smaller institution with 140 students in Eastlake, OH.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $40,973 track close to the $44,151 national median for Practical Nursing programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 29.7x 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 8%. Career paths for Practical Nursing are among the more automation-resistant trades we analyze.

At $9,500 in median debt against $40,973 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #602 out of 703 programs, Northern Career Institute's financial outcomes for Practical Nursing trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth is modest: $40,973 to $45,698 over five years (12% 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.

63 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
62
Low End
63
Score
64
High End
Earnings $40,973/yr (-7% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$465K
2.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
29.8x
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
$15,600
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,500
2.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,698
12% 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

From day-one roles to senior positions, Practical Nursing careers span a range of specializations. Read the complete outlook for graduates entering healthcare.

Read the full Practical Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Practical Nursing Overview

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Northern Career Institute's Practical Nursing program score?
A score of 63/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Northern Career Institute trails the majority of Practical Nursing programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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. Northern Career Institute graduates retain 2 of 2 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
What's the typical debt for Practical Nursing graduates from Northern Career Institute?
At $9,500 in median debt, Practical Nursing graduates from Northern Career Institute carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
Can I learn Practical Nursing through an apprenticeship instead of Northern Career Institute?
Yes — 2 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Practical Nursing career paths, including Nurse, Licensed Practical. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at Northern Career Institute.
How many job openings are there for Practical Nursing graduates?
At 258,500 annual openings, Practical Nursing has a very large employment base. Northern Career Institute 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 →