Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at North Dakota State College of Science

The numbers here tell two very different stories depending on your perspective. North Dakota State College of Science's practical nursing program ranks in the 60th percentile within North Dakota—solidly middle-of-the-pack for the state—but lands in just the 18th percentile nationally. First-year earnings of $42,000 trail the national median by nearly $10,000. However, the 24% earnings growth by year four suggests graduates gain ground with experience, reaching $52,000.

The debt load of $24,385 is higher than the national median for this program, though the 0.58 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe roughly seven months of their first-year salary. That's manageable but not exceptional. Given that North Dakota's practical nursing salaries appear lower across the board—this program matches the state median exactly—the weaker national showing may reflect regional wage differences rather than program quality issues.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, making it statistically unreliable. A few outliers could skew these numbers significantly. For North Dakota families keeping costs down, this program offers reasonable debt and steady earnings growth. But if your child is considering practical nursing and willing to look elsewhere, programs in other states show stronger earnings potential from day one.