Practical Nursing at Sinclair Community College

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

with a mid-sized student body of 12,585 in Dayton, OH.

Program Analysis

Sinclair Community College's Practical Nursing graduates start at $24,297/yr, trailing the $44,151 national average by 45%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

With a 122.1x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

Career paths for Practical Nursing carry above-average AI exposure (18% of tasks). The 40% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $5,868 in median debt clears fast against $24,297 in annual earnings.

A #430 ranking among 703 Practical Nursing programs places Sinclair Community College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $24,297-to-$46,170 earnings arc over five years reflects a 90% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

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

67 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
61
Low End
67
Score
68
High End
Earnings $24,297/yr (-45% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$426K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
124.1x
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)
$3,435
Out-of-state: $8,316
Median Debt at Graduation
$5,868
2.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,170
90% 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 Sinclair 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 Sinclair Community College?
A score of 67/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Sinclair Community College trails the majority of Practical Nursing programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How safe is Practical Nursing from automation?
This is one of the more automation-resistant trades. Practical Nursing work requires physical skill and on-site presence — qualities AI cannot provide. Our model rates it "AI-Proof" overall.
What's the typical debt for Practical Nursing graduates from Sinclair Community College?
At $5,868 in median debt, Practical Nursing graduates from Sinclair Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
Is Sinclair Community College a good choice for Practical Nursing despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Sinclair Community College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Can I learn Practical Nursing through an apprenticeship instead?
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?
The career paths mapped to Practical Nursing have roughly 258,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →