Home › Gaston College › Nursing

Nursing at Gaston College

Dallas, NC · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

a compact campus enrolling 3,359 students in Dallas, NC.

Program Analysis

Gaston College's Nursing program produces graduates earning $68,245/yr — within striking distance of the $69,474 national average for this trade.

The 115.7x 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.

Ranked #192 out of 947 programs, Gaston College's Nursing program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

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

TradeSchoolOutlook Score

Low End

Score

High End

Earnings $68,245/yr (-2% vs median)

AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)

Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings

$68K

Reported median after graduation

Earnings Multiple (In-State)

115.9x

10-year earnings ÷ tuition

Viable Career Paths

6 of 6

Occupations with strong AI resilience

Program Tuition (In-State)

$6,372

Out-of-state: $18,660

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$64,239

Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

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

Nursing opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Nursing Overview

Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Gaston College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Gaston College's Nursing program score?

At 87/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.

What's the AI risk for Nursing graduates from Gaston College?

AI exposure of 39% is a real factor. For Gaston College specifically, the gap between optimistic ($738,611) and pessimistic ($713,994) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.

What makes Gaston College's Nursing program stand out?

The #192 ranking out of 947 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.

Can I learn Nursing through an apprenticeship instead of Gaston College?

If Gaston 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?

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 →