Practical Nursing at The Chicago School at Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

With a 40% acceptance rate, The Chicago School at Los Angeles is moderately selective, a compact campus enrolling 324 students in Los Angeles, CA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $59,039 put The Chicago School at Los Angeles's Practical Nursing program 34% above the national median of $44,151 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

With a 29.6x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 0% spread between best and worst-case AI scenarios signals strong resilience. Most careers in Practical Nursing involve physical, hands-on work that current AI cannot replicate.

With first-year pay of $59,039 far exceeding the $19,125 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #346 ranking among 703 Practical Nursing programs places The Chicago School at Los Angeles in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The limited growth from $59,039 to $61,468 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

For students considering alternatives, 2 registered apprenticeship programs align with Practical Nursing careers — offering paid training instead of tuition costs.

69 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
68
Low End
69
Score
69
High End
Earnings $59,039/yr (34% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$618K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
29.7x
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
$20,844
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,125
3.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,468
4% 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 The Chicago School at Los Angeles

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Practical Nursing at The Chicago School at Los Angeles?
A score of 69/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Practical Nursing field.
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.
Is there demand for Practical Nursing workers?
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 →