Practical Nursing at Rochester Community and Technical College

Rochester, MN · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

a compact campus enrolling 3,122 students in Rochester, MN.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $42,200 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 75.0x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 8% 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 $19,250 in median debt against $42,200 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

A #194 ranking among 703 Practical Nursing programs places Rochester Community and Technical College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The limited growth from $42,200 to $47,072 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.

75 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
73
Low End
75
Score
75
High End
Earnings $42,200/yr (-4% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$479K
2.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
75.3x
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
$6,359
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,250
5.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$47,072
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

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 Rochester Community and Technical College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Rochester Community and Technical College's Practical Nursing program score?
A score of 75/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Rochester Community and Technical College's Practical Nursing graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How AI-proof is a career in Practical Nursing?
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.
Are there apprenticeship options for Practical Nursing?
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 certificate programs.
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 →