Practical Nursing at Carthage R9 School District-Carthage Technical Center

Carthage, MO · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

with a smaller student body of 17 in Carthage, MO.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $47,524/yr, edging above the $44,151 national average for Practical Nursing — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

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 $14,638 in median debt against $47,524 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #460 of 703 Practical Nursing programs, Carthage R9 School District-Carthage Technical Center falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $48,041 are relatively flat compared to the $47,524 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 $47,524/yr (8% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$497K
1.0% 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
$14,638
3.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,041
1% 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

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 67/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Practical Nursing at Carthage R9 School District-Carthage Technical Center?
This program scores 67/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Practical Nursing programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
How safe is Practical Nursing from automation?
This is one of the more automation-resistant trades. Practical Nursing work requires physical skill and on-site presence — qualities AI cannot provide. Our model rates it "AI-Proof" overall.
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.
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 →