Practical Nursing at Washington State Community College

Starting salaries of $36,836/yr fall 17% below the $44,151 national median for Practical Nursing. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 93.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Practical Nursing programs nationally.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic scenarios is just 0% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

At $11,025 in median debt against $36,836 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #216 of 703 Practical Nursing programs, Washington State Community College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $37,425 are relatively flat compared to the $36,836 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

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.