Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at American River College

Sacramento, CA · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

with 25,758 students enrolled in Sacramento, CA.

Program Analysis

At $98,951 per year, Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates from American River College significantly outpace the $69,474 national average for this trade, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 451.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration's career paths, with 39% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 11% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $12,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #6 of 947 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs nationally, American River College sits in the top 1% — one of the strongest programs in the country by financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $114,068 are relatively flat compared to the $98,951 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

There are 4 registered apprenticeship pathways mapped to Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration, including Home Health Director (median $117,960/yr). Apprenticeships offer an alternative route that combines paid work with structured training.

91 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
85
Low End
91
Score
92
High End
Earnings $98,951/yr (42% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$1,167K
3.6% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
453.1x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$2,576
Out-of-state: $25,616
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,750
1.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$114,068
15% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Nurse anesthetists $223,210 +8.6% 83%
Nurse practitioners $129,210 +40.1% 52%
Nurse midwives $128,790 +11.1% 61%
Nurse anesthetists
$223,210
+8.6% growth 83% AI-proof
Nurse practitioners
$129,210
+40.1% growth 52% AI-proof
Nurse midwives
$128,790
+11.1% growth 61% AI-proof

View all 6 career paths with full salary data →

About Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Careers

Your career begins on the front lines as a Registered Nurse. You’ll work in fast-paced hospitals or clinics, monitoring patient vitals on EKG machines, administering medications, and updating electronic health records. After gaining experience, your path can branch. You might pursue advanced clinical practice to become a Nurse Practitioner, where you’ll diagnose conditions, prescribe treatments, and manage your own patient caseload. Alternatively, you could move into leadership as a Health Services Manager, where your day involves managing staff schedules, overseeing budgets, and ensuring your department runs smoothly.

Read the full Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration career guide →

Compare & Explore

Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Overview

Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Other Schools

Other Majors at American River College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does American River College's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program score?
A score of 91/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. American River College's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration to AI automation?
The 39% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
What's the typical debt for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates from American River College?
At $12,750 in median debt, Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates from American River College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.1x is well below the trade program average.
Why does American River College rank so high for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration?
Among 947 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs, American River College's #6 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
Can I learn Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration through an apprenticeship instead?
There are 4 registered apprenticeships connected to Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
How many job openings are there for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates?
The career paths mapped to Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration have roughly 292,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →