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

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 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?
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.
Are there apprenticeship options for Practical Nursing?
Yes — 2 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Practical Nursing career paths, including Nurse, Licensed Practical. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
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 →