Practical Nursing at Hagerstown Community College

Hagerstown, MD · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

a smaller institution with 2,783 students in Hagerstown, MD.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $45,584 track close to the $44,151 national median for Practical Nursing programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 110.4x 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 0% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

At $9,250 in median debt against $45,584 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #107 of 703 nationally, this is a top-5% Practical Nursing program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

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.

80 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
78
Low End
80
Score
80
High End
Earnings $45,584/yr (3% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$477K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
110.4x
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)
$4,320
Out-of-state: $8,190
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,250
2.4 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

Practical Nursing Career Guide

Explore what Practical Nursing graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 703 programs nationwide.

Read the full Practical Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Practical Nursing Overview

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Hagerstown Community College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Hagerstown Community College's Practical Nursing program score?
At 80/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
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. Hagerstown Community College graduates retain 2 of 2 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
How affordable is Practical Nursing at Hagerstown Community College?
Median debt of just $9,250 against $45,584/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
What makes Hagerstown Community College's Practical Nursing program stand out?
Ranked #107 of 703 programs nationally, Hagerstown Community College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Are there apprenticeship options for Practical Nursing?
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 a program at Hagerstown Community College.
Is there demand for Practical Nursing workers?
At 258,500 annual openings, Practical Nursing has a very large employment base. Hagerstown Community College graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →