Practical Nursing at River Parishes Community College

First-year earnings of $43,978 track close to the $44,151 national median for Practical Nursing programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

With a 119.1x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 6% 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.

At $13,228 in median debt against $43,978 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

River Parishes Community College ranks #123 among 703 Practical Nursing programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

The limited growth from $43,978 to $48,100 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

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