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Practical Nursing at Southern Technical College

Orlando, FL · Private for-profit · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

with a smaller student body of 1,686 in Orlando, FL.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $24,817/yr fall 44% below the $44,151 national median for Practical Nursing. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

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 $9,500 in median debt against $24,817 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #678 of 703 Practical Nursing programs, Southern Technical 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.

TradeSchoolOutlook Score

Low End

Score

High End

Earnings $24,817/yr (-44% vs median)

AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)

Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings

$260K

1.0% 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

$9,500

4.6 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

Practical Nursing Career Guide

Explore what Practical Nursing graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 703 programs nationwide.

Read the full Practical Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Practical Nursing Overview

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Southern Technical College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Practical Nursing at Southern Technical College?

At 53/100, 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 AI-proof is a career in Practical Nursing?

Highly resilient. Practical Nursing careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Southern Technical College graduates retain 2 of 2 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.

Why are Practical Nursing earnings lower at Southern Technical College?

Lower starting pay at Southern 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 of Southern Technical College?

Beyond Southern Technical College'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.

Is there demand for Practical Nursing workers?

The very large job market (258,500 annual openings) works in favor of Practical Nursing graduates. The national outlook is driven by an aging population and expanding healthcare access, though regional variation matters.

Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →