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Practical Nursing at Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College

Cumberland, KY · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

with a smaller student body of 1,680 in Cumberland, KY.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $27,051/yr fall 39% below the $44,151 national median for Practical Nursing. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 60.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

With only 18% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, the scenario spread is tight at 0%. Career paths for Practical Nursing are among the more automation-resistant trades we analyze.

At $4,500 in median debt against $27,051 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #614 out of 703 programs, Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College's financial outcomes for Practical Nursing trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Practical Nursing connects to 2 apprenticeship options. The earn-while-you-learn model can be a strong alternative or complement to a certificate program.

62 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
61
Low End
62
Score
63
High End
Earnings $27,051/yr (-39% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$283K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
60.8x
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)
$4,656
Out-of-state: $6,192
Median Debt at Graduation
$4,500
2.0 months of Year 1 earnings

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

View all 703 schools offering Practical Nursing →

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Harmony Health Care Institute ($85,953) Schoolcraft Community College District ($75,104) Saint Michael College of Allied Health ($74,782) Otero College ($74,405) Beal University ($72,467) Unitek College ($72,368) Shawsheen Valley School of Practical Nursing ($72,230) Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School District ($67,498)

Other Majors at Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($61,155) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($50,513) Precision Metal Working ($30,566) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($29,562) Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services ($26,592) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($26,182)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Practical Nursing degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 62/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Practical Nursing at Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College?
At 62/100, the score looks reasonable — but Practical Nursing is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
How safe is Practical Nursing from automation?
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.
How affordable is Practical Nursing at Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College?
At $4,500 in median debt, Practical Nursing graduates from Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
Why are Practical Nursing earnings lower at Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College?
Lower starting pay at Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
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.
Is there demand for Practical Nursing workers?
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 →