Practical Nursing at College of Saint Mary

Omaha, NE · Private nonprofit · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

With a 44% acceptance rate, College of Saint Mary is moderately selective, a smaller institution with 455 students in Omaha, NE.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $36,194 place College of Saint Mary below the $44,151 national median for Practical Nursing — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

With a 16.2x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 0% spread between best and worst-case AI scenarios signals strong resilience. Most careers in Practical Nursing involve physical, hands-on work that current AI cannot replicate.

With first-year pay of $36,194 far exceeding the $9,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #662 ranking among 703 Practical Nursing programs places College of Saint Mary in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

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

57 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
55
Low End
57
Score
58
High End
Earnings $36,194/yr (-18% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$379K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
16.2x
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
$23,340
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,500
3.1 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

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

Explore the Degree Alternative

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does College of Saint Mary's Practical Nursing program score?
This program scores 57/100 — 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?
Practical Nursing rates as "AI-Proof" for AI resilience. With only 18% of tasks exposed to automation, the trade's physical demands provide a natural shield against AI displacement.
What's the typical debt for Practical Nursing graduates from College of Saint Mary?
At $9,500 in median debt, Practical Nursing graduates from College of Saint Mary carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.3x is well below the trade program average.
Why are Practical Nursing earnings lower at College of Saint Mary?
Starting salary is one data point. If College of Saint Mary's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Practical Nursing graduates?
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 →