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Practical Nursing at Southwest Texas Junior College

Uvalde, TX · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

with a smaller student body of 3,170 in Uvalde, TX.

Program Analysis

Southwest Texas Junior College's Practical Nursing graduates start at $26,691/yr, trailing the $44,151 national average by 40%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 174.1x 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 — $9,000 in median debt clears fast against $26,691 in annual earnings.

Ranked #260 out of 703 programs, Southwest Texas Junior College's Practical Nursing offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $26,691 to $46,642 over five years (75% 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.

71 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
66
Low End
71
Score
72
High End
Earnings $26,691/yr (-40% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$468K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
177.0x
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)
$2,646
Out-of-state: $6,294
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,000
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,642
75% 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

What can you do with a Practical Nursing credential from Southwest Texas Junior College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Practical Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Practical Nursing Overview

View all 703 schools offering Practical Nursing →

Practical Nursing at Other Schools

Harmony Health Care Institute ($85,953) Schoolcraft Community College District ($75,104) Saint Michael College of Allied Health ($74,782) Otero College ($74,405) Beal University ($72,467) Unitek College ($72,368) Shawsheen Valley School of Practical Nursing ($72,230) Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School District ($67,498)

Other Majors at Southwest Texas Junior College

Criminal Justice ($41,320) Vehicle Repair Technology ($21,826) Liberal Arts & Humanities ($21,332) Precision Metalworking ($16,469)

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Compare Practical Nursing degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Practical Nursing at Southwest Texas Junior College?
A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Southwest Texas Junior College's Practical Nursing graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How AI-proof is a career in Practical Nursing?
For Southwest Texas Junior College graduates, AI risk is minimal. Practical Nursing rated "AI-Proof" — 82% of the work involves hands-on skills that current AI simply can't perform.
Why are Practical Nursing earnings lower at Southwest Texas Junior College?
Starting salary is one data point. If Southwest Texas Junior College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Practical Nursing program at Southwest Texas Junior College?
There are 2 registered apprenticeships connected to Practical Nursing occupations, such as Nurse, Licensed Practical and Nurse, Licensed Practical. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
How many job openings are there for Practical Nursing graduates?
Job availability for Practical Nursing is strong — 258,500 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Southwest Texas Junior College graduates specifically, local market conditions in TX may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →