Practical Nursing at Vermont State University

Randolph, VT · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

Vermont State University has a 83% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a compact campus enrolling 3,567 students in Randolph, VT.

Program Analysis

Vermont State University's Practical Nursing graduates start at $51,608/yr — above the $44,151 national average, though not by a wide margin.

With a 58.1x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 19% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Practical Nursing career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $9,500 in median debt clears fast against $51,608 in annual earnings.

A #198 ranking among 703 Practical Nursing programs places Vermont State University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

A 24% earnings increase from $51,608 to $64,138 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

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

75 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
72
Low End
75
Score
75
High End
Earnings $51,608/yr (17% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$667K
5.6% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
58.5x
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)
$11,400
Out-of-state: $21,408
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,500
2.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$64,138
24% 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 Vermont State University

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Vermont State University's Practical Nursing program score?
A score of 75/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Vermont State University's Practical Nursing graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How AI-proof is a career in Practical Nursing?
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 Vermont State University?
Median debt of just $9,500 against $51,608/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Are there apprenticeship options for Practical Nursing?
There are 2 registered apprenticeships connected to Practical Nursing occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
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 →