Practical Nursing at Texas Southmost College

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

a smaller institution with 3,453 students in Brownsville, TX.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $46,052 track close to the $44,151 national median for Practical Nursing programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 153.1x 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 $5,500 in median debt against $46,052 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #79 out of 703 programs, Texas Southmost College's Practical Nursing program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

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

82 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
80
Low End
82
Score
83
High End
Earnings $46,052/yr (4% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$482K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
153.1x
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)
$3,148
Out-of-state: $4,948
Median Debt at Graduation
$5,500
1.4 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

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 Texas Southmost 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 Texas Southmost College's Practical Nursing program score?
At 82/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Will AI replace Practical Nursing jobs?
Highly resilient. Practical Nursing careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Texas Southmost College graduates retain 2 of 2 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
How affordable is Practical Nursing at Texas Southmost College?
At $5,500 in median debt, Practical Nursing graduates from Texas Southmost College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.1x is well below the trade program average.
What makes Texas Southmost College's Practical Nursing program stand out?
Among 703 Practical Nursing programs, Texas Southmost College's #79 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Practical Nursing graduates?
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 a program at Texas Southmost College.
Will Practical Nursing graduates from Texas Southmost College find jobs?
With approximately 258,500 annual openings across mapped careers, Practical Nursing offers a very large employment pool. Texas Southmost College graduates enter a market shaped by an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →