Practical Nursing at Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA · Private for-profit · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

With 100% of applicants admitted, Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia prioritizes broad access, with a smaller student body of 406 in Philadelphia, PA.

Program Analysis

At $49,653 per year, Practical Nursing graduates from Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia earn slightly above the $44,151 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

With only 18% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, the scenario spread is tight at 2%. Career paths for Practical Nursing are among the more automation-resistant trades we analyze.

The median debt load of $17,200 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

At #385 out of 703 programs, Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia's financial outcomes for Practical Nursing trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth is modest: $49,653 to $52,362 over five years (5% gain). This trade may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

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

68 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
65
Low End
68
Score
68
High End
Earnings $49,653/yr (12% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$527K
1.3% annual growth
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.

Median Debt at Graduation
$17,200
4.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,362
5% 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

Practical Nursing Career Guide

See the full career breakdown for Practical Nursing — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia and 702 other schools.

Read the full Practical Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Practical Nursing Overview

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia's Practical Nursing program score?
At 68/100, 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?
AI resilience is a strength here. Only 18% of Practical Nursing tasks overlap with AI capabilities, and 2 of 2 career paths remain viable even in our most conservative scenario.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Practical Nursing program at Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia?
Beyond Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia's classroom route, 2 registered apprenticeships map to Practical Nursing careers — including Nurse, Licensed Practical. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
Will Practical Nursing graduates from Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia find jobs?
The career paths mapped to Practical Nursing have roughly 258,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →