Practical Nursing at Illinois Central College

East Peoria, IL · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

a smaller institution with 4,909 students in East Peoria, IL.

Program Analysis

At $55,604 per year, Practical Nursing graduates from Illinois Central College significantly outpace the $44,151 national average for this trade, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

With a 125.1x 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.

The median debt load of $7,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

At #43 of 703 programs, this Practical Nursing program outperforms the majority of its peers. The top 10% ranking reflects consistently above-average outcomes.

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

83 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
82
Low End
83
Score
84
High End
Earnings $55,604/yr (26% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$582K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
125.1x
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)
$4,650
Out-of-state: $11,700
Median Debt at Graduation
$7,500
1.6 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

Practical Nursing opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Practical Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Practical Nursing Overview

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Illinois Central 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

What does a 83/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Practical Nursing at Illinois Central College?
A score of 83/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Illinois Central College's Practical Nursing graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How safe is Practical Nursing from automation?
For Illinois Central College graduates, AI risk is minimal. Practical Nursing rated "AI-Proof" — 82% of the work involves hands-on skills that current AI simply can't perform.
How affordable is Practical Nursing at Illinois Central College?
Median debt of just $7,500 against $55,604/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.
Are there apprenticeship options for Practical Nursing?
If Illinois Central College's tuition gives you pause, consider that 2 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Practical Nursing. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
Is there demand for Practical Nursing workers?
With approximately 258,500 annual openings across mapped careers, Practical Nursing offers a very large employment pool. Illinois Central College graduates enter a market shaped by an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →