Practical Nursing at Ozarka College

Starting salaries of $36,085/yr fall 18% below the $44,151 national median for Practical Nursing. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 98.8x 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 0% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

At $9,500 in median debt against $36,085 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #202 of 703 Practical Nursing programs, Ozarka College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

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.