Practical Nursing at Pueblo Community College

Pueblo, CO · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

with a smaller student body of 3,293 in Pueblo, CO.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $25,507/yr fall 42% below the $44,151 national median for Practical Nursing. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 54.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Practical Nursing programs nationally.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic scenarios is just 0% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

At $6,750 in median debt against $25,507 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #641 of 703 Practical Nursing programs, Pueblo Community College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

There are 2 registered apprenticeship pathways mapped to Practical Nursing, including Nurse, Licensed Practical (median $62,340/yr). Apprenticeships offer an alternative route that combines paid work with structured training.

60 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
59
Low End
60
Score
60
High End
Earnings $25,507/yr (-42% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$267K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
54.7x
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)
$4,883
Out-of-state: $17,116
Median Debt at Graduation
$6,750
3.2 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

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Pueblo Community College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Pueblo Community College's Practical Nursing program score?
This program scores 60/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Practical Nursing programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
How AI-proof is a career in Practical Nursing?
Practical Nursing rates as "AI-Proof" for AI resilience. With only 18% of tasks exposed to automation, the trade's physical demands provide a natural shield against AI displacement.
How affordable is Practical Nursing at Pueblo Community College?
At $6,750 in median debt, Practical Nursing graduates from Pueblo Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.3x is well below the trade program average.
Why are Practical Nursing earnings lower at Pueblo Community College?
Lower starting pay at Pueblo Community 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.
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 →