Nursing at Kirkwood Community College

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

serving 7,438 students in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Program Analysis

At $64,461/yr, Nursing graduates from Kirkwood Community College land near the $69,474 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

With a 58.2x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 3% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Nursing career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

The median debt load of $15,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

A #627 ranking among 947 Nursing programs places Kirkwood Community College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

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

79 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
74
Low End
79
Score
79
High End
Earnings $64,461/yr (-7% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings
$64K
Reported median after graduation
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
58.3x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience
Program Tuition (In-State)
$11,960
Out-of-state: $15,936
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,750
2.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,713
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

What can you do with a Nursing credential from Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood Community College's Nursing program score?
A score of 79/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Kirkwood Community College trails the majority of Nursing programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Nursing to AI automation?
With 39% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $674,405 in decade earnings vs $697,657 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
How affordable is Nursing at Kirkwood Community College?
Median debt of just $15,750 against $64,461/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 Kirkwood Community College?
There are 4 registered apprenticeships connected to Nursing occupations, such as Home Health Director and Long Term Care Nurse Management. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
What's the job market like for Nursing from Kirkwood Community College?
Job availability for Nursing is strong — 292,500 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Kirkwood Community College graduates specifically, local market conditions in IA may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →