Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Shawnee Community College

Shawnee Community College's practical nursing certificate punches well above its weight, with graduates earning $54,323—outperforming 80% of Illinois nursing programs and 90% nationally. That's $11,000 more than the typical Illinois practical nursing graduate and $10,000 above the national median. With just $11,162 in debt, the economics work strongly in students' favor: graduates earn nearly five times what they borrowed in their first year alone.

The caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates reported data, so individual outcomes could vary more than these numbers suggest. Still, the pattern makes sense: rural healthcare facilities often struggle to attract staff, which can translate to competitive wages for new nurses willing to work in less populated areas. The program serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (34%), suggesting it's accessible to families who need it most.

For parents weighing options, this program offers a rare combination: low debt, strong earnings, and a clear path to immediate employment. While it doesn't quite reach the earnings of top Illinois programs like Ambria or Verve, those typically come with significantly higher costs. If your student is comfortable with a smaller program in rural southern Illinois, this represents solid value—just recognize the small sample means you're working with less certainty than you'd have at larger programs.