Practical Nursing at Nicolet Area Technical College

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

a compact campus enrolling 706 students in Rhinelander, WI.

Program Analysis

At $20,526 per year, Practical Nursing graduates from Nicolet Area Technical College earn below the $44,151 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The 75.0x 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.

The median debt load of $7,125 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

At #645 out of 703 programs, Nicolet Area Technical College's financial outcomes for Practical Nursing trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $20,526 to $41,498 over five years (102% 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.

60 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
54
Low End
60
Score
61
High End
Earnings $20,526/yr (-54% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$360K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
76.3x
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)
$4,724
Out-of-state: $6,917
Median Debt at Graduation
$7,125
4.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$41,498
102% 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

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

Other Majors at Nicolet Area 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

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Practical Nursing at Nicolet Area Technical College?
A score of 60/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Nicolet Area Technical College trails the majority of Practical Nursing programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How AI-proof is a career in Practical Nursing?
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.
Is Nicolet Area Technical College a good choice for Practical Nursing despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Nicolet Area Technical College'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.
How many job openings are there for Practical Nursing graduates?
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 →