Practical Nursing at Fox Valley Technical College

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

enrolling 6,004 students in Appleton, WI.

Program Analysis

At $38,540/yr, Practical Nursing graduates from Fox Valley Technical College land near the $44,151 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 91.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Practical Nursing programs nationally.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic scenarios is just 10% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

The median debt load of $8,250 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

At #200 of 703 Practical Nursing programs, Fox Valley Technical College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $43,980 are relatively flat compared to the $38,540 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.

75 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
72
Low End
75
Score
75
High End
Earnings $38,540/yr (-13% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$449K
3.4% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
91.4x
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)
$4,916
Out-of-state: $7,109
Median Debt at Graduation
$8,250
2.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,980
14% 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

Practical Nursing Career Guide

What can you do with a Practical Nursing credential from Fox Valley Technical College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Practical Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Practical Nursing Overview

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Fox Valley 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

How does Fox Valley Technical College's Practical Nursing program score?
At 75/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Will AI replace Practical Nursing jobs?
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 Fox Valley Technical College?
Median debt of just $8,250 against $38,540/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Are there apprenticeship options for Practical Nursing?
The DOL recognizes 2 apprenticeship pathways related to Practical Nursing. For students weighing Fox Valley Technical College's program cost against alternatives, apprenticeships offer zero-tuition entry with paid employment from day one.
How many job openings are there for Practical Nursing graduates?
The very large job market (258,500 annual openings) works in favor of Practical Nursing graduates. The national outlook is driven by an aging population and expanding healthcare access, though regional variation matters.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →