Practical Nursing at Chippewa Valley Technical College

Starting salaries of $37,386/yr fall 15% below the $44,151 national median for Practical Nursing. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 136.6x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI exposure is significant at 18% of job tasks, producing a 40% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

At $11,562 in median debt against $37,386 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #173 out of 703 programs, Chippewa Valley Technical College's Practical Nursing program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $37,386 to $69,051 over five years (85% increase) indicates that graduates in this trade see meaningful salary progression.

Practical Nursing connects to 2 apprenticeship options. The earn-while-you-learn model can be a strong alternative or complement to a certificate program.