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Practical Nursing at Southwestern Illinois College

Belleville, IL · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

enrolling 5,280 students in Belleville, IL.

Program Analysis

Southwestern Illinois College's Practical Nursing graduates start at $22,351/yr, trailing the $44,151 national average by 49%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 99.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Practical Nursing programs nationally.

The 40% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 18% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Practical Nursing graduates.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $3,500 in median debt clears fast against $22,351 in annual earnings.

Ranked #547 of 703 Practical Nursing programs, Southwestern Illinois College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $36,693 show a 64% jump from the $22,351 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

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.

TradeSchoolOutlook Score

Low End

Score

High End

Earnings $22,351/yr (-49% vs median)

AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)

Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings

$392K

12.0% annual growth

Earnings Multiple (In-State)

101.4x

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)

$3,870

Out-of-state: $6,210

Median Debt at Graduation

$3,500

1.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$36,693

64% 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

Practical Nursing opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Practical Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Practical Nursing Overview

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Southwestern Illinois 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 Southwestern Illinois College?

A score of 64/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Southwestern Illinois College trails the majority of Practical Nursing programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.

Is Practical Nursing from Southwestern Illinois College a future-proof career choice?

This is one of the more automation-resistant trades. Practical Nursing work requires physical skill and on-site presence — qualities AI cannot provide. Southwestern Illinois College's score of 64/100 reflects this durability.

How affordable is Practical Nursing at Southwestern Illinois College?

At $3,500 in median debt, Practical Nursing graduates from Southwestern Illinois College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.

Is Southwestern Illinois College a good choice for Practical Nursing despite lower starting pay?

Starting salary is one data point. If Southwestern Illinois 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 of Southwestern Illinois College?

Beyond Southwestern Illinois College's classroom route, 2 registered apprenticeships map to Practical Nursing careers — including Nurse, Licensed Practical. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.

Is there demand for Practical Nursing workers?

The very large job market (258,500 annual openings) works in favor of Practical Nursing graduates. The national outlook is driven by an aging population and expanding healthcare access, though regional variation matters.

Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →