Practical Nursing at Blackhawk Technical College

Janesville, WI · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

a smaller institution with 2,457 students in Janesville, WI.

Program Analysis

At $21,748 per year, Practical Nursing graduates from Blackhawk Technical College earn below the $44,151 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

With a 90.0x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

Career paths for Practical Nursing carry above-average AI exposure (18% of tasks). The 40% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.

The median debt load of $3,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

A #597 ranking among 703 Practical Nursing programs places Blackhawk Technical College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $21,748-to-$47,417 earnings arc over five years reflects a 118% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

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

63 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
56
Low End
63
Score
64
High End
Earnings $21,748/yr (-51% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$382K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
91.5x
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)
$4,170
Out-of-state: $5,927
Median Debt at Graduation
$3,500
1.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$47,417
118% 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 Blackhawk Technical College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Practical Nursing at Blackhawk Technical College?
At 63/100, 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.
How safe is Practical Nursing from automation?
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 Blackhawk Technical College?
At $3,500 in median debt, Practical Nursing graduates from Blackhawk Technical College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
Is Blackhawk Technical College a good choice for Practical Nursing despite lower starting pay?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Can I learn Practical Nursing through an apprenticeship instead?
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 certificate programs.
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 →