Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Williston State College

North Dakota's nursing programs deliver some of the strongest financial outcomes in the country, and Williston State fits squarely into this pattern. Based on comparable ND programs, first-year earnings around $61,000 represent a 38% premium over the national median for practical nursing certificates—a significant advantage driven by the state's healthcare labor market. With debt at $19,726, graduates face a manageable 0.32 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning they'd owe roughly four months of their first-year salary.

The trajectory looks solid through year four, when earnings climb to nearly $64,000. This stability matters for practical nurses, whose career progression often depends more on experience and additional certifications than dramatic salary jumps. Williston's debt level sits slightly above the state median but well below what would raise red flags, especially given the earning power these programs generate.

The caveat is that Williston's specific outcomes aren't reported due to small graduate cohorts, so these projections rely on peer program performance across North Dakota. But with four of the state's five practical nursing programs clustered in the $61,000 earnings range, there's reasonable consistency to anchor expectations. For parents evaluating nursing training in North Dakota, the state's combination of strong wages and controlled debt makes these programs among the more financially secure certificate options available.