Home › Northwest State Community College › Practical Nursing

Practical Nursing at Northwest State Community College

Archbold, OH · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

with a smaller student body of 1,037 in Archbold, OH.

Program Analysis

At $47,124 per year, Practical Nursing graduates from Northwest State Community College earn slightly above the $44,151 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 107.7x 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.

The median debt load of $8,959 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #113 out of 703 programs, Northwest State 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 $47,124/yr (7% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings
$47K
Reported median after graduation
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
107.7x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
2 of 2
Occupations with strong AI resilience
Program Tuition (In-State)
$4,578
Out-of-state: $8,930
Median Debt at Graduation
$8,959
2.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,868
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

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 Northwest State Community College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($63,343) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($42,324) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($27,702)

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Compare Practical Nursing degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Northwest State 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?
This is one of the more automation-resistant trades. Practical Nursing work requires physical skill and on-site presence — qualities AI cannot provide. Our model rates it "AI-Proof" overall.
How affordable is Practical Nursing at Northwest State Community College?
Median debt of just $8,959 against $47,124/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 Northwest State Community College one of the best schools for Practical Nursing?
The #113 ranking out of 703 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
Can I learn Practical Nursing through an apprenticeship instead?
There are 2 registered apprenticeships connected to Practical Nursing occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
How many job openings are there for Practical Nursing graduates?
With approximately 258,500 annual openings across mapped careers, Practical Nursing offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →