Nursing at Jefferson State Community College

Birmingham, AL · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

with a mid-sized student body of 5,443 in Birmingham, AL.

Program Analysis

Jefferson State Community College's Nursing program produces graduates earning $63,811/yr — within striking distance of the $69,474 national average for this trade.

The 69.8x 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 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Nursing graduates.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $11,000 in median debt clears fast against $63,811 in annual earnings.

At #527 out of 947 programs, Jefferson State Community College's financial outcomes for Nursing trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth is modest: $63,811 to $69,606 over five years (9% gain). This trade may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

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

81 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
75
Low End
81
Score
81
High End
Earnings $63,811/yr (-8% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$705K
2.2% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
69.9x
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)
$10,080
Out-of-state: $17,700
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,000
2.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$69,606
9% 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 Jefferson State Community 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 Jefferson State Community College's Nursing program score?
At 81/100, 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?
With 39% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $667,605 in decade earnings vs $705,036 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
How affordable is Nursing at Jefferson State Community College?
Median debt of just $11,000 against $63,811/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Nursing program at Jefferson State Community College?
Yes — 4 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Nursing career paths, including Home Health Director. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at Jefferson State Community College.
Will Nursing graduates from Jefferson State Community College find jobs?
At 292,500 annual openings, Nursing has a very large employment base. Jefferson State Community College graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →