Nursing at Flathead Valley Community College

Kalispell, MT · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

a smaller institution with 1,169 students in Kalispell, MT.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $71,348/yr, roughly in line with the $69,474 national median for Nursing. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 81.2x 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.

With first-year pay of $71,348 far exceeding the $18,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #377 out of 947 programs, Flathead Valley Community College's Nursing offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

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

84 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
79
Low End
84
Score
84
High End
Earnings $71,348/yr (3% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$772K
1.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
81.3x
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)
$9,496
Out-of-state: $22,726
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,000
3.0 months of Year 1 earnings

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

See the full career breakdown for Nursing — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Flathead Valley Community College and 946 other schools.

Read the full Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Nursing Overview

Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Flathead Valley Community College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Flathead Valley Community College's Nursing program score?
This program scores 84/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Nursing nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, hands-on AI resilience, and solid financial return.
How vulnerable is Nursing to AI automation?
AI exposure of 39% is a real factor. For Flathead Valley Community College specifically, the gap between optimistic ($772,195) and pessimistic ($746,457) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.
What's the typical debt for Nursing graduates from Flathead Valley Community College?
Median debt of just $18,000 against $71,348/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.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Nursing program at Flathead Valley Community College?
Beyond Flathead Valley Community College's classroom route, 4 registered apprenticeships map to Nursing careers — including Home Health Director. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
How many job openings are there for Nursing graduates?
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 →