Practical Nursing at Northwood Technical College

Rice Lake, WI · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

with a smaller student body of 2,026 in Rice Lake, WI.

Program Analysis

Northwood Technical College's Practical Nursing graduates start at $26,492/yr, trailing the $44,151 national average by 40%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 101.1x 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.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $5,500 in median debt clears fast against $26,492 in annual earnings.

At #437 out of 703 programs, Northwood Technical College's financial outcomes for Practical Nursing trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $26,492 to $57,622 over five years (118% 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.

67 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
61
Low End
67
Score
68
High End
Earnings $26,492/yr (-40% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$465K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
102.8x
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)
$4,524
Out-of-state: $6,583
Median Debt at Graduation
$5,500
2.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,622
118% 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 Northwood Technical College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Northwood Technical College's Practical Nursing program score?
At 67/100, the score looks reasonable — but Practical Nursing is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
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.
How affordable is Practical Nursing at Northwood Technical College?
At $5,500 in median debt, Practical Nursing graduates from Northwood Technical College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
Can you still earn well with Practical Nursing from Northwood Technical College?
Lower starting pay at Northwood Technical College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Can I learn Practical Nursing through an apprenticeship instead?
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?
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 →