Nursing at College of Lake County

Grayslake, IL · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

with a mid-sized student body of 9,282 in Grayslake, IL.

Program Analysis

College of Lake County's Nursing program produces graduates earning $72,472/yr — within striking distance of the $69,474 national average for this trade.

The 87.0x 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 3% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Nursing graduates.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $11,400 in median debt clears fast against $72,472 in annual earnings.

Ranked #304 out of 947 programs, College of Lake County's Nursing offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $72,472 to $77,613 over five years (7% gain). This trade may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

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

85 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
79
Low End
85
Score
85
High End
Earnings $72,472/yr (4% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$784K
1.7% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
87.2x
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)
$8,988
Out-of-state: $28,072
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,400
1.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$77,613
7% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Nursing 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 →

Nursing Career Guide

Explore what Nursing graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 947 programs nationwide.

Read the full Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Nursing Overview

Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at College of Lake County

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Nursing at College of Lake County?
A score of 85/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. College of Lake County's Nursing graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
Will AI affect Nursing careers?
With 39% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $758,219 in decade earnings vs $783,756 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
How affordable is Nursing at College of Lake County?
Median debt of just $11,400 against $72,472/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Are there apprenticeship options for Nursing?
If College of Lake County's tuition gives you pause, consider that 4 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Nursing. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
What's the job market like for Nursing from College of Lake County?
The career paths mapped to Nursing have roughly 292,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →