Nursing at Fresno City College

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

serving 18,774 students in Fresno, CA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $91,961 put Fresno City College's Nursing program 32% above the national median of $69,474 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

With a 368.3x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 2% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Nursing career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

With first-year pay of $91,961 far exceeding the $3,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Fresno City College ranks #18 among 947 Nursing programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

The limited growth from $91,961 to $97,609 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

For students considering alternatives, 4 registered apprenticeship programs align with Nursing careers — offering paid training instead of tuition costs.

91 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
85
Low End
91
Score
92
High End
Earnings $91,961/yr (32% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$984K
1.5% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
368.9x
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)
$2,668
Out-of-state: $18,908
Median Debt at Graduation
$3,500
0.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$97,609
6% 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 Fresno City 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 Fresno City College's Nursing program score?
A score of 91/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Fresno City College's Nursing graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Nursing to AI automation?
AI exposure of 39% is a real factor. For Fresno City College specifically, the gap between optimistic ($984,291) and pessimistic ($962,116) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.
How affordable is Nursing at Fresno City College?
Median debt of just $3,500 against $91,961/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 0 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Is Fresno City College one of the best schools for Nursing?
The #18 ranking out of 947 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Nursing graduates?
If Fresno City College'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.
Is there demand for Nursing workers?
Job availability for Nursing is strong — 292,500 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Fresno City College graduates specifically, local market conditions in CA may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →