Practical Nursing at San Jacinto Community College

Pasadena, TX · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

serving a student body of 23,071 in Pasadena, TX.

Program Analysis

San Jacinto Community College's Practical Nursing graduates start at $51,679/yr — above the $44,151 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 323.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Practical Nursing programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Practical Nursing's career paths, with 18% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 17% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $8,550 in median debt clears fast against $51,679 in annual earnings.

At #18 of 703 nationally, this is a top-5% Practical Nursing program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $51,679 to $62,754 over five years — a 21% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

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.

85 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
83
Low End
85
Score
86
High End
Earnings $51,679/yr (17% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$649K
5.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
325.9x
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 (In-State)
$1,992
Out-of-state: $5,352
Median Debt at Graduation
$8,550
2.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,754
21% 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

Explore what Practical Nursing graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 703 programs nationwide.

Read the full Practical Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Practical Nursing Overview

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at San Jacinto Community College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Practical Nursing at San Jacinto Community College?
A score of 85/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. San Jacinto Community 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?
Highly resilient. Practical Nursing careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. San Jacinto Community College graduates retain 2 of 2 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
How affordable is Practical Nursing at San Jacinto Community College?
At $8,550 in median debt, Practical Nursing graduates from San Jacinto Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
Is San Jacinto Community College one of the best schools for Practical Nursing?
Ranked #18 of 703 programs nationally, San Jacinto Community College lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Are there apprenticeship options for Practical Nursing?
If San Jacinto Community College's tuition gives you pause, consider that 2 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Practical Nursing. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
How many job openings are there for Practical Nursing graduates?
The career paths mapped to Practical Nursing have roughly 258,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →