Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Nicolet Area Technical College

The numbers here raise immediate red flags, though the small sample size means they might not tell the full story. Graduates earn just $20,526 in their first year—less than half the Wisconsin median of $36,984 for practical nursing programs, placing this in the bottom 10th percentile statewide. That's roughly $13,000 per year below what graduates from other Wisconsin LPN programs typically earn, and dramatically lower than top performers like Herzing University-Kenosha where graduates earn $47,310.

The debt load of $9,114 is relatively modest, but even that becomes concerning when measured against such low initial earnings. The 68% earnings jump to $34,565 by year four suggests graduates do eventually find better positions, though that still trails the state median. It's possible these figures capture graduates in entry-level nursing assistant roles rather than licensed practical nurse positions, or reflect part-time employment patterns that aren't representative of most graduates' experiences.

With fewer than 30 graduates in this dataset, these numbers could easily misrepresent the typical outcome. However, parents should investigate why this program's tracked earnings fall so far below other Wisconsin options. If your child is set on nursing in the Northwoods area, consider whether programs like Rasmussen or Herzing—despite potentially higher costs—might deliver significantly better career outcomes that justify the investment.