Practical Nursing at Venango County Area Vocational Technical School

Oil City, PA · Public · Certificate · Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

With a 60% acceptance rate, Venango County Area Vocational Technical School is moderately selective, a smaller institution with 57 students in Oil City, PA.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $40,285/yr, roughly in line with the $44,151 national median for Practical Nursing. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

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 $40,285 far exceeding the $14,677 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #570 ranking among 703 Practical Nursing programs places Venango County Area Vocational Technical School in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The limited growth from $40,285 to $40,323 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.

64 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
62
Low End
64
Score
65
High End
Earnings $40,285/yr (-9% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (82% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$421K
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
$14,677
4.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$40,323
0% 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

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

Explore the Degree Alternative

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 64/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Practical Nursing at Venango County Area Vocational Technical School?
At 64/100, 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.
Will AI replace Practical Nursing jobs?
Highly resilient. Practical Nursing careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Venango County Area Vocational Technical School graduates retain 2 of 2 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
Can I learn Practical Nursing through an apprenticeship instead of Venango County Area Vocational Technical School?
If Venango County Area Vocational Technical School's tuition gives you pause, consider that 2 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Practical Nursing. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
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 →