Practical Nursing at William Rainey Harper College

First-year earnings of $36,528 place William Rainey Harper College below the $44,151 national median for Practical Nursing — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 152.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Practical Nursing programs nationally.

The 35% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 18% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Practical Nursing graduates.

With first-year pay of $36,528 far exceeding the $6,258 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #164 of 703 nationally, this is a top-5% Practical Nursing program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $36,528 to $54,134 over five years — a 48% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

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.