Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at College of Southern Maryland

La Plata, MD · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

with a smaller student body of 4,422 in La Plata, MD.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $73,576/yr, edging above the $69,474 national average for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

The 91.6x 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 0% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates.

At $9,900 in median debt against $73,576 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #319 out of 947 programs, College of Southern Maryland's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $73,576 to $75,040 over five years (2% gain). This trade may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

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.

85 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
80
Low End
85
Score
86
High End
Earnings $73,576/yr (6% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$770K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
91.6x
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)
$8,400
Out-of-state: $18,900
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,900
1.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$75,040
2% 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 College of Southern Maryland

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does College of Southern Maryland's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program score?
This program scores 85/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, hands-on AI resilience, and solid financial return.
How vulnerable is Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration to AI automation?
With 39% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $769,766 in decade earnings vs $769,766 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
How affordable is Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at College of Southern Maryland?
At $9,900 in median debt, Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates from College of Southern Maryland carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.1x is well below the trade program average.
Can I learn Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration through an apprenticeship instead?
Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration connects to 4 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
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 →