Practical Nursing at Athena Career Academy

Toledo, OH · Private for-profit · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

Athena Career Academy accepts 60% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with a smaller student body of 395 in Toledo, OH.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $48,002 at Athena Career Academy come in 9% above the national median of $44,151 for Practical Nursing programs.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic scenarios is just 13% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

With first-year pay of $48,002 far exceeding the $14,120 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #457 of 703 Practical Nursing programs, Athena Career Academy falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $55,996 are relatively flat compared to the $48,002 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.

67 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
65
Low End
67
Score
68
High End
Earnings $48,002/yr (9% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$574K
3.9% annual growth
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.

Median Debt at Graduation
$14,120
3.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,996
17% 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 Athena Career Academy

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 67/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Practical Nursing at Athena Career Academy?
At 67/100, the score looks reasonable — but Practical Nursing is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
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. Graduates retain 2 of 2 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
How affordable is Practical Nursing at Athena Career Academy?
Median debt of just $14,120 against $48,002/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 4 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Can I learn Practical Nursing through an apprenticeship instead?
Practical Nursing connects to 2 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
How many job openings are there for Practical Nursing graduates?
With approximately 258,500 annual openings across mapped careers, Practical Nursing offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →