Nursing at Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, IA · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

a smaller institution with 2,528 students in Waterloo, IA.

Program Analysis

At $58,835 per year, Nursing graduates from Hawkeye Community College earn below the $69,474 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 50.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Nursing programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Nursing's career paths, with 39% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 3% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $18,469 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #689 of 947 Nursing programs, Hawkeye Community College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $63,114 are relatively flat compared to the $58,835 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

There are 4 registered apprenticeship pathways mapped to Nursing, including Home Health Director (median $117,960/yr). Apprenticeships offer an alternative route that combines paid work with structured training.

76 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
71
Low End
76
Score
76
High End
Earnings $58,835/yr (-15% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$638K
1.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
50.5x
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)
$12,616
Out-of-state: $13,196
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,469
3.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$63,114
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

What can you do with a Nursing credential from Hawkeye Community College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Nursing Overview

Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Hawkeye Community College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Hawkeye Community College's Nursing program score?
At 76/100, the score looks reasonable — but Nursing is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Will AI affect Nursing careers?
AI exposure of 39% is a real factor. For Hawkeye Community College specifically, the gap between optimistic ($637,513) and pessimistic ($615,545) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.
Why are Nursing earnings lower at Hawkeye Community College?
Starting salary is one data point. If Hawkeye Community College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Can I learn Nursing through an apprenticeship instead of Hawkeye Community College?
The DOL recognizes 4 apprenticeship pathways related to Nursing. For students weighing Hawkeye Community College's program cost against alternatives, apprenticeships offer zero-tuition entry with paid employment from day one.
Is there demand for Nursing workers?
Job availability for Nursing is strong — 292,500 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Hawkeye Community College graduates specifically, local market conditions in IA may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →