Licensed Practical Nursing: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed to equip students with the foundational clinical and technical skills needed to deliver essential patient care, this program prepares individuals for entry-level roles in healthcare settings under the supervision of licensed professionals. Graduates are trained to support medical teams in delivering safe, compassionate, and effective nursing services across diverse environments.
- Vital Signs Assessment: Learning to accurately measure and interpret critical health indicators such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate to monitor patient conditions.
- Wound Care and Sterile Techniques: Mastering the application of sterile dressings, infection control protocols, and proper handling of medical supplies to promote healing and prevent complications.
- Patient Education and Communication: Developing the ability to convey health information clearly and empathetically to support patient understanding, adherence to care plans, and self-management of conditions.
- Clinical Support During Examinations and Procedures: Gaining hands-on experience in assisting with patient preparation, equipment setup, and procedural support during diagnostic evaluations and therapeutic treatments.
Licensed Practical Nursing Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Licensed Practical Nursing Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Licensed Practical Nursing degrees, including Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 632,430 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses 29-2061 | $62,340 | $47,960 - $80,510 | 632,430 | $29.97 |
Licensed Practical Nursing Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $48,850 in Mississippi to $79,700 in Washington—a 63% difference. The highest-paying states include Washington, Rhode Island, and Alaska. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 632,430 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Licensed Practical Nursing by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Licensed Practical Nursing programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Licensed Practical Nursing is found at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) (1,637 graduates), Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) (1,209 graduates), Hondros College of Nursing (HCON) (1,122 graduates), Unitek College (1,107 graduates), and Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts (869 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 24,086 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
Other Award
|
1,637 | Ankeny, Iowa | Public | dmacc.edu |
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
1,209 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| Hondros College of Nursing (HCON) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1,122 | Westerville, Ohio | Private | hondros.edu |
| Unitek College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1,107 | Fremont, California | Private | unitekcollege.edu |
| Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
869 | San Jose, California | Private | gurnick.edu |
| ECPI University (ECPI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
747 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | ecpi.edu |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
|
579 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | bluegrass.kctcs.edu |
| Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
|
472 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | southcentral.kctcs.edu |
| Veeb Nassau County School of Practical Nursing (VEEB) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
407 | Hicksville, New York | Public | veebpnprogram.org |
| Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
|
406 | Ashland, Kentucky | Public | ashland.kctcs.edu |
| Owensboro Community and Technical College (OCTC) |
Residency
|
356 | Owensboro, Kentucky | Public | owensboro.kctcs.edu |
| West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
|
323 | Paducah, Kentucky | Public | westkentucky.kctcs.edu |
| Gateway Community and Technical College (GCTC) |
Residency
|
318 | Florence, Kentucky | Public | gateway.kctcs.edu |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College (JCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
|
316 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | jefferson.kctcs.edu |
| High Desert Medical College (HDMC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Residency
|
309 | Lancaster, California | Private | hdmc.edu |
| Valley College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
302 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | valley.edu |
| Rio Grande Valley College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
299 | Pharr, Texas | Private | rgvcollege.edu |
| American Career College (ACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
298 | Ontario, California | Private | americancareercollege.edu |
| American Career College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
287 | Anaheim, California | Private | americancareercollege.edu |
| Cuyahoga Community College District (Tri-C) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
280 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | tri-c.edu |
| American Career College (ACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
270 | Los Angeles, California | Private | americancareercollege.edu |
| Galen College of Nursing |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
263 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | galencollege.edu |
| Somerset Community College (SCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
|
259 | Somerset, Kentucky | Public | somerset.kctcs.edu |
| Stanbridge University |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
|
258 | Irvine, California | Private | stanbridge.edu |
| Hazard Community and Technical College (HCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
|
253 | Hazard, Kentucky | Public | hazard.kctcs.edu |
| Madisonville Community College (MCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
|
247 | Madisonville, Kentucky | Public | madisonville.kctcs.edu |
| South College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
243 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Private | south.edu |
| Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College (SKCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
|
237 | Cumberland, Kentucky | Public | southeast.kctcs.edu |
| Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (ECTC) |
Residency
|
233 | Elizabethtown, Kentucky | Public | elizabethtown.kctcs.edu |
| Hopkinsville Community College (HCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
|
221 | Hopkinsville, Kentucky | Public | hopkinsville.kctcs.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Associate's
|
205 | Guayama, Puerto Rico | Private | guayama.inter.edu |
| Lincoln Technical Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
201 | Lincoln, Rhode Island | Private | lincolntech.edu |
| Coastal Alabama Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
200 | Bay Minette, Alabama | Public | coastalalabama.edu |
| Career Care Institute (CCI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
200 | Lancaster, California | Private | ccicolleges.edu |
| Gaston College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
195 | Dallas, North Carolina | Public | gaston.edu |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
194 | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Public | nwtc.edu |
| Maysville Community and Technical College (MCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
|
193 | Maysville, Kentucky | Public | maysville.kctcs.edu |
| Sumner College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
186 | Portland, Oregon | Private | sumnercollege.edu |
| Lincoln Technical Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
186 | Paramus, New Jersey | Private | lincolntech.edu |
| John C Calhoun State Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
184 | Tanner, Alabama | Public | calhoun.edu |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
184 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | cvtc.edu |
| Central Louisiana Technical Community College (CLTCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
180 | Alexandria, Louisiana | Public | cltcc.edu |
| Lincoln Technical Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
177 | Moorestown, New Jersey | Private | lincolntech.edu |
| Eastern Suffolk BOCES |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
175 | Sayville, New York | Public | adulteducation.esboces.org |
| Porter & Chester Institute (PCI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
169 | Bridgeport, Connecticut | Private | porterchester.edu |
| California Career Institute (CCI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
168 | Anaheim, California | Private | calinstitute.edu |
| Bevill State Community College (BSCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
166 | Jasper, Alabama | Public | bscc.edu |
| George C Wallace State Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
165 | Hanceville, Alabama | Public | wallacestate.edu |
| Gateway Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
164 | Kenosha, Wisconsin | Public | gtc.edu |
| Vermont State University (VTSU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
163 | Randolph, Vermont | Public | vermontstate.edu |
| Lincoln Technical Institute (Lincoln Tech) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
152 | New Britain, Connecticut | Private | lincolntech.edu |
| Lincoln Technical Institute |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
151 | Shelton, Connecticut | Private | lincolntech.edu |
| South Texas College (STC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
149 | McAllen, Texas | Public | southtexascollege.edu |
| Kirkwood Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
147 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Public | kirkwood.edu |
| South Louisiana Community College (SLCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
143 | Lafayette, Louisiana | Public | solacc.edu |
| North-West College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
143 | Riverside, California | Private | north-westcollege.edu |
| Blake Austin College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
142 | Vacaville, California | Private | blakeaustincollege.edu |
| Academia Medical Institute (AMI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
141 | Columbus, Ohio | Private | amiohio.edu |
| Collins Career Technical Center (CCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
140 | Chesapeake, Ohio | Public | collins-cc.edu |
| Lincoln Technical Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
139 | Iselin, New Jersey | Private | lincolntech.edu |
| Erie 1 BOCES |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
138 | West Seneca, New York | Public | e1b.org |
| Indian Capital Technology Center (ICTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
137 | Muskogee, Oklahoma | Public | ictech.edu |
| Angeles College |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
135 | Los Angeles, California | Private | angelescollege.edu |
| GateWay Community College (GWCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
134 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | gatewaycc.edu |
| Davis Technical College (DATC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
132 | Kaysville, Utah | Public | davistech.edu |
| Rappahannock Community College (RCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
132 | Glenns, Virginia | Public | rappahannock.edu |
| Professional Skills Institute (PSI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
131 | Maumee, Ohio | Private | proskills.edu |
| Smith Chason College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
131 | Los Angeles, California | Private | wcui.edu |
| Northwest Mississippi Community College (NWCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
130 | Senatobia, Mississippi | Public | northwestms.edu |
| Homestead Schools |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
130 | Torrance, California | Private | homesteadschools.net |
| Unitek College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
130 | Hayward, California | Private | unitekcollege.edu |
| Albany BOCES |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
128 | Albany, New York | Public | capitalregionboces.org |
| Kellogg Community College (KCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
127 | Battle Creek, Michigan | Public | kellogg.edu |
| North-West College (NWC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
126 | West Covina, California | Private | nw.edu |
| Isabella Graham Hart School of Practical Nursing (IGH) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
126 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochesterregional.org |
| Southern Union State Community College (SUSCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
126 | Wadley, Alabama | Public | suscc.edu |
| Pearl River Community College (PRCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
124 | Poplarville, Mississippi | Public | prcc.edu |
| Lancaster County Career and Technology Center (LCCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
123 | Willow Street, Pennsylvania | Public | lancasterctc.edu |
| Unitek College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
123 | South San Francisco, California | Private | unitekcollege.edu |
| Carrington College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
122 | Sacramento, California | Private | carrington.edu |
| Shelton State Community College (SSCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
121 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | sheltonstate.edu |
| Falcon Institute of Health and Science |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
120 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Private | falconihs.com |
| Miller-Motte College |
Associate's
|
119 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Private | miller-motte.edu |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
118 | Sioux City, Iowa | Public | witcc.edu |
| Dorsey College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
117 | Madison Heights, Michigan | Private | dorsey.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
117 | Elizabethton, Tennessee | Public | tcatelizabethton.edu |
| Del Mar College (DMC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
117 | Corpus Christi, Texas | Public | delmar.edu |
| Tyler Junior College (TJC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
117 | Tyler, Texas | Public | tjc.edu |
| Rasmussen University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
116 | Ocala, Florida | Private | rasmussen.edu |
| Bryant & Stratton College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
116 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | bryantstratton.edu |
| Clover Park Technical College (CPTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
116 | Lakewood, Washington | Public | cptc.edu |
| Lincoln Technical Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
113 | Allentown, Pennsylvania | Private | lincolntech.edu |
| Joliet Junior College (JJC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
112 | Joliet, Illinois | Public | jjc.edu |
| Northshore Technical Community College (NTCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
112 | Lacombe, Louisiana | Public | northshorecollege.edu |
| Kiamichi Technology Center (KTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
110 | McAlester, Oklahoma | Public | ktc.edu |
| Career Development Institute Inc (CDI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
110 | Los Angeles, California | Private | cdi.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
108 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wsutech.edu |
| Southeast Technical College (STC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
106 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Public | southeasttech.edu |
| Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
104 | Alberta, Virginia | Public | southside.edu |
| Lansing Community College (LCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
103 | Lansing, Michigan | Public | lcc.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Licensed Practical Nursing programs
How much can I earn with a Licensed Practical Nursing degree?
Salaries for Licensed Practical Nursing graduates vary by role and location. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses earn a median of $62,340 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Washington average $79,700 compared to $48,850 in Mississippi. Approximately 632,430 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Licensed Practical Nursing programs?
Currently 954 accredited institutions offer Licensed Practical Nursing degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) (1,637 graduates), Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) (1,209 graduates), and Hondros College of Nursing (HCON) (1,122 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Licensed Practical Nursing growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 60,312 in 2010 to 50,931 in 2023-24. This represents a 16% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Licensed Practical Nursing degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses. Related occupations employ approximately 632,430 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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