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Practical Nursing at Northern Essex Community College

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

with a smaller student body of 3,350 in Haverhill, MA.

Program Analysis

Northern Essex Community College's Practical Nursing graduates start at $50,770/yr — above the $44,151 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 93.4x 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.

With only 18% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, the scenario spread is tight at 0%. Career paths for Practical Nursing are among the more automation-resistant trades we analyze.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $11,447 in median debt clears fast against $50,770 in annual earnings.

Ranked #108 out of 703 programs, Northern Essex Community College's Practical Nursing program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Practical Nursing connects to 2 apprenticeship options. The earn-while-you-learn model can be a strong alternative or complement to a certificate program.

80 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
79
Low End
80
Score
81
High End
Earnings $50,770/yr (15% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$531K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
93.4x
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)
$5,688
Out-of-state: $11,472
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,447
2.7 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

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

View all 703 schools offering Practical Nursing →

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Harmony Health Care Institute ($85,953) Schoolcraft Community College District ($75,104) Saint Michael College of Allied Health ($74,782) Otero College ($74,405) Beal University ($72,467) Unitek College ($72,368) Shawsheen Valley School of Practical Nursing ($72,230) Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School District ($67,498)

Other Majors at Northern Essex Community College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($74,427) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($67,610) Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General ($50,389) Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems ($49,459) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($46,439) Criminal Justice and Corrections ($39,426) Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services ($38,885) Accounting and Related Services ($37,960)

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Compare Practical Nursing degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Northern Essex 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 AI-proof is a career in Practical Nursing?
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.
How affordable is Practical Nursing at Northern Essex Community College?
At $11,447 in median debt, Practical Nursing graduates from Northern Essex Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
What makes Northern Essex Community College's Practical Nursing program stand out?
The #108 ranking out of 703 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this 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 →