Practical Nursing at North Shore Community College

Danvers, MA · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

a smaller institution with 4,055 students in Danvers, MA.

Program Analysis

At $55,336 per year, Practical Nursing graduates from North Shore Community College significantly outpace the $44,151 national average for this trade, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

The 137.8x 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 risk is moderate — 18% task exposure — and the 22% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Practical Nursing graduates.

The median debt load of $7,250 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #24 out of 703 programs, North Shore Community College's Practical Nursing program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $55,336 to $70,986 shows 28% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable 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.

84 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
81
Low End
84
Score
85
High End
Earnings $55,336/yr (25% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$744K
6.4% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
139.0x
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)
$5,352
Out-of-state: $10,920
Median Debt at Graduation
$7,250
1.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$70,986
28% 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 North Shore Community 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 North Shore Community College?
At 84/100, 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. Graduates retain 2 of 2 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
What's the typical debt for Practical Nursing graduates from North Shore Community College?
Median debt of just $7,250 against $55,336/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.
Is North Shore Community College one of the best schools for Practical Nursing?
Ranked #24 of 703 programs nationally, North Shore Community College lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Are there apprenticeship options for Practical Nursing?
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 →