Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Bluefield State University

Bluefield, WV · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

Bluefield State University accepts 87% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 1,231 students in Bluefield, WV.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $62,242 track close to the $69,474 national median for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 37.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 39% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates.

At $15,500 in median debt against $62,242 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #770 out of 947 programs, Bluefield State University's financial outcomes for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $62,242 to $74,864 shows 20% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration connects to 4 apprenticeship options. The earn-while-you-learn model can be a strong alternative or complement to a certificate program.

73 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
67
Low End
73
Score
73
High End
Earnings $62,242/yr (-10% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$773K
4.7% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
37.7x
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)
$20,480
Out-of-state: $35,120
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,500
3.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$74,864
20% 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 Bluefield State University

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Bluefield State University?
At 73/100, the score looks reasonable — but Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Will AI affect Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration careers?
With 39% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $651,188 in decade earnings vs $772,873 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
How affordable is Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Bluefield State University?
Median debt of just $15,500 against $62,242/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Are there apprenticeship options for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration?
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.
Is there demand for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration workers?
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 →