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UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATE OR DIPLOMA · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 5139

Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?

National picture across 862 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$55,921 in median year-4 earnings

A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.

$55,921Median year-4 earnings

$14,439Average institution net-price context

$14,912Median federal debt

Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$55,921Median reported earnings · year 4

$49,724Average reported earnings · year 5

$14,912Median federal debt

60thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

862Reporting programs

800With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

The same field can produce a different equation.

Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.

CURRENT VIEW

Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma

Year-4 earnings: $55,921
Federal debt: $14,912
Reporting programs: 862

800 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $64,035
Federal debt: $20,000
Reporting programs: 44

39 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $30,043
Federal debt: $15,250
Reporting programs: 6

6 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Graduate/Professional Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $50,497
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)

Year-4 earnings: $51,791
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 9

9 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

Where the middle half of programs lands

Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.

Median

25th percentile$48,900National median$55,92175th percentile$63,504

800 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1Monroe University$111,045 2Saint Michael College of Allied Health$92,203 3Holyoke Community College$88,067 4CUNY LaGuardia Community College$85,842 5Best Care College$85,297 6CUNY Medgar Evers College$83,108 7Harmony Health Care Institute$82,633 8Holy Name Medical Center-Sister Claire Tynan School of Nursing$82,581 9Unitek College$82,448 10Chemeketa Community College$82,215

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesSOC 29-2061 · 2 crosswalk linksNursing AssistantsSOC 31-1131 · 2 crosswalk links

BEST COLLEGES FOR PRACTICAL NURSING, VOCATIONAL NURSING AND NURSING ASSISTANTS

Same degree, different outcomes

Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.

#	College	Location	Earnings, year 4	Federal debt	ROI status	Cost context
1	Monroe UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Bronx, NY	$111,045	$9,468	Baseline needed	$14,522
2	Saint Michael College of Allied HealthUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Washington, DC	$92,203	$17,713	Baseline needed	$38,751
3	Holyoke Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Holyoke, MA	$88,067	Not available	Baseline needed	$8,068
4	CUNY LaGuardia Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Long Island City, NY	$85,842	$12,256	Baseline needed	$6,120
5	Best Care CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	East Orange, NJ	$85,297	$13,056	Baseline needed	Not available
6	CUNY Medgar Evers CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Brooklyn, NY	$83,108	Not available	Baseline needed	$5,718
7	Harmony Health Care InstituteUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Merrimack, NH	$82,633	$12,685	Baseline needed	$42,740
8	Holy Name Medical Center-Sister Claire Tynan School of NursingUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Englewood Cliffs, NJ	$82,581	$18,224	Baseline needed	Not available
9	Unitek CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Fremont, CA	$82,448	$17,305	Baseline needed	$25,179
10	Chemeketa Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Salem, OR	$82,215	$9,500	Baseline needed	$8,200
11	Unitek CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	South San Francisco, CA	$82,132	$17,305	Baseline needed	$23,676
12	Unitek CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Hayward, CA	$82,132	$17,305	Baseline needed	$19,130
13	Alvin Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Alvin, TX	$80,511	$10,215	Baseline needed	$8,525
14	Niagara County Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Sanborn, NY	$79,873	Not available	Baseline needed	$6,876
15	Jefferson CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Hillsboro, MO	$79,734	Not available	Baseline needed	$7,378
16	Laramie County Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Cheyenne, WY	$79,624	$20,000	Baseline needed	$7,287
17	Schoolcraft Community College DistrictUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Livonia, MI	$79,585	$21,575	Baseline needed	$2,260
18	AMG School of NursingUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Brooklyn, NY	$79,191	$14,167	Baseline needed	$34,613
19	Standard Healthcare Services-College of NursingUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Falls Church, VA	$78,053	$14,750	Baseline needed	$35,726
20	Casper CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Casper, WY	$77,872	$13,000	Baseline needed	$9,593
21	Mount Wachusett Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Gardner, MA	$77,523	$14,435	Baseline needed	$7,931
22	Southern State Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Hillsboro, OH	$77,249	$16,364	Baseline needed	$9,674
23	Howard CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Big Spring, TX	$77,012	$14,461	Baseline needed	$6,147
24	Shawsheen Valley School of Practical NursingUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Billerica, MA	$76,747	$9,397	Baseline needed	$35,126
25	Universal Training InstituteUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Perth Amboy, NJ	$75,945	$12,953	Baseline needed	$45,933
26	North Idaho CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Coeur d'Alene, ID	$75,888	$16,250	Baseline needed	$10,575
27	National Career CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Panorama City, CA	$75,837	$17,947	Baseline needed	$27,850
28	North Country Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Saranac Lake, NY	$75,715	$16,000	Baseline needed	$11,868
29	College of DuPageUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Glen Ellyn, IL	$75,450	$11,000	Baseline needed	$7,401
30	Carrington College-SacramentoUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Sacramento, CA	$75,305	$17,375	Baseline needed	$41,338
31	Carrington College-San JoseUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	San Jose, CA	$75,305	$17,375	Baseline needed	$36,466
32	Kellogg Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Battle Creek, MI	$74,860	$22,852	Baseline needed	$4,858
33	Berkshire Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Pittsfield, MA	$74,410	$14,905	Baseline needed	$9,921
34	UCNJ Union College of Union County New JerseyUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Cranford, NJ	$74,280	$20,246	Baseline needed	$8,257
35	Community College of Baltimore CountyUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Baltimore, MD	$74,260	$25,117	Baseline needed	$9,844
36	Durham Technical Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Durham, NC	$74,234	$22,313	Baseline needed	$1,664
37	Mohave Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Kingman, AZ	$74,186	$15,000	Baseline needed	$5,974
38	Clover Park Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Lakewood, WA	$74,121	$16,205	Baseline needed	$9,864
39	PITC InstituteUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Wyncote, PA	$74,120	$20,241	Baseline needed	$28,276
40	Wor-Wic Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Salisbury, MD	$74,097	$12,725	Baseline needed	$9,360
41	Lawson State Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Birmingham, AL	$74,030	$15,926	Baseline needed	$6,275
42	Verve CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Oak Brook, IL	$73,903	$14,933	Baseline needed	Not available
43	Pima Medical Institute-AuroraUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Aurora, CO	$73,884	$11,597	Baseline needed	$23,255
44	Concorde Career College-San DiegoUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	San Diego, CA	$73,869	$17,179	Baseline needed	$25,394
45	Marian Health Careers Center-Los Angeles CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Los Angeles, CA	$73,653	$12,333	Baseline needed	$31,374
46	Marian Health Careers Center-Van Nuys CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Van Nuys, CA	$73,653	$12,333	Baseline needed	$28,791
47	Colorado Mesa UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Grand Junction, CO	$73,377	$21,675	Baseline needed	$15,103
48	Alpena Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Alpena, MI	$72,969	$13,500	Baseline needed	$3,320
49	Kirkwood Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Cedar Rapids, IA	$72,932	Not available	Baseline needed	$9,705
50	Jersey CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Teterboro, NJ	$72,866	$18,397	Baseline needed	$52,558
51	Iowa Western Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Council Bluffs, IA	$72,759	$18,000	Baseline needed	$14,629
52	GateWay Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Phoenix, AZ	$72,726	$12,898	Baseline needed	$13,339
53	GateWay Community College-Central CityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Phoenix, AZ	$72,726	$12,898	Baseline needed	$14,438
54	Williston State CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Williston, ND	$72,475	$19,726	Baseline needed	$5,932
55	Stanbridge UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Irvine, CA	$72,468	$20,000	Baseline needed	$45,372
56	Vermont State UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Randolph, VT	$72,235	$14,583	Baseline needed	$18,212
57	Ambria College of NursingUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Hoffman Estates, IL	$72,143	$11,878	Baseline needed	Not available
58	Charles A Jones Career and Education CenterUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Sacramento, CA	$72,010	$9,498	Baseline needed	$16,605
59	Sumner CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Portland, OR	$71,865	$16,500	Baseline needed	$29,411
60	Western Wyoming Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Rock Springs, WY	$71,774	$9,500	Baseline needed	$6,591
61	Herzing University-BirminghamUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Birmingham, AL	$71,753	$22,586	Baseline needed	$19,651
62	Herzing University-AkronUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Akron, OH	$71,753	$22,586	Baseline needed	$18,934
63	Herzing University-MadisonUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Madison, WI	$71,753	$22,586	Baseline needed	$22,327
64	Herzing University-OrlandoUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Winter Park, FL	$71,753	$22,586	Baseline needed	$19,850
65	Herzing University-KenoshaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Kenosha, WI	$71,753	$22,586	Baseline needed	$23,066
66	Herzing University-BrookfieldUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Brookfield, WI	$71,753	$22,586	Baseline needed	$20,514
67	Herzing University-TampaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Tampa, FL	$71,753	$22,586	Baseline needed	$20,421
68	Herzing University-NashvilleUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Nashville, TN	$71,753	$22,586	Baseline needed	$20,537
69	American Career College-Los AngelesUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Los Angeles, CA	$71,653	$17,317	Baseline needed	$32,408
70	American Career College-AnaheimUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Anaheim, CA	$71,653	$17,317	Baseline needed	$31,218
71	Central Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Grand Island, NE	$71,440	Not available	Baseline needed	$7,024
72	Gurnick Academy of Medical ArtsUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	San Jose, CA	$71,282	$17,317	Baseline needed	$32,427
73	Quinsigamond Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Worcester, MA	$71,218	$19,771	Baseline needed	$9,090
74	J. F. Drake State Community and Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Huntsville, AL	$71,211	Not available	Baseline needed	$6,005
75	Clovis Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Clovis, NM	$71,081	$9,995	Baseline needed	$3,230
76	Concorde Career College-AuroraUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Aurora, CO	$71,020	$17,268	Baseline needed	$16,666
77	Concorde Career College-DallasUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Dallas, TX	$71,020	$17,268	Baseline needed	$25,299
78	San Jacinto Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Pasadena, TX	$70,986	$14,250	Baseline needed	$12,143
79	Bunker Hill Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Boston, MA	$70,744	Not available	Baseline needed	$7,818
80	Greenfield Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Greenfield, MA	$70,565	$12,123	Baseline needed	$7,679
81	York Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Rock Hill, SC	$70,381	$12,434	Baseline needed	$5,931
82	Medical Allied Career CenterUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Santa Fe Springs, CA	$70,253	$17,130	Baseline needed	$34,458
83	Pickens Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Aurora, CO	$70,079	$11,000	Baseline needed	$6,600
84	Xavier College School of NursingUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Stockton, CA	$70,061	$16,850	Baseline needed	$14,918
85	Indiana County Technology CenterUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Indiana, PA	$69,864	$20,565	Baseline needed	$18,822
86	Veeb Nassau County School of Practical NursingUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Hicksville, NY	$69,821	$12,406	Baseline needed	$39,938
87	Muskegon Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Muskegon, MI	$69,762	$15,601	Baseline needed	$4,005
88	West Shore Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Scottville, MI	$69,706	$16,250	Baseline needed	$1,527
89	Eastern Suffolk BOCESUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Sayville, NY	$69,482	$9,500	Baseline needed	$24,557
90	Bryant & Stratton College-BuffaloUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Buffalo, NY	$69,451	$25,967	Baseline needed	$14,135
91	Bryant & Stratton College-ParmaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Parma, OH	$69,451	$25,967	Baseline needed	$12,849
92	Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia BeachUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Virginia Beach, VA	$69,451	$25,967	Baseline needed	$12,038
93	Bryant & Stratton College-WauwatosaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Wauwatosa, WI	$69,451	$25,967	Baseline needed	$14,858
94	Eastwick College-HackensackUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Hackensack, NJ	$69,418	$23,565	Baseline needed	$29,885
95	Southwestern Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Creston, IA	$69,271	$16,343	Baseline needed	$9,871
96	Pratt Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Pratt, KS	$69,251	Not available	Baseline needed	$9,731
97	North-West College-Van NuysUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Van Nuys, CA	$69,183	$18,845	Baseline needed	$31,999
98	Blake Austin CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Vacaville, CA	$69,152	$17,900	Baseline needed	$29,136
99	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-MemphisUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Memphis, TN	$69,143	$14,040	Baseline needed	$14,315
100	William Rainey Harper CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Palatine, IL	$69,119	$8,750	Baseline needed	$11,607

This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.