Practical Nursing at Wharton County Junior College

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

a compact campus enrolling 4,832 students in Wharton, TX.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $48,326 at Wharton County Junior College come in 9% above the national median of $44,151 for Practical Nursing programs.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 173.4x 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.

With first-year pay of $48,326 far exceeding the $8,750 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #56 of 703 programs, Wharton County Junior College's Practical Nursing program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

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.

83 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
81
Low End
83
Score
84
High End
Earnings $48,326/yr (9% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$506K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
173.4x
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)
$2,916
Out-of-state: $5,568
Median Debt at Graduation
$8,750
2.2 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

What can you do with a Practical Nursing credential from Wharton County Junior College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Practical Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Practical Nursing Overview

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Wharton County Junior College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 83/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Practical Nursing at Wharton County Junior College?
At 83/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Is Practical Nursing from Wharton County Junior College a future-proof career choice?
AI resilience is a strength here. Only 18% of Practical Nursing tasks overlap with AI capabilities, and 2 of 2 career paths remain viable even in our most conservative scenario.
How affordable is Practical Nursing at Wharton County Junior College?
At $8,750 in median debt, Practical Nursing graduates from Wharton County Junior College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Practical Nursing program at Wharton County Junior College?
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 Wharton County Junior College.
How many job openings are there for Practical Nursing graduates?
The career paths mapped to Practical Nursing have roughly 258,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →