Nursing at Lake Land College

Mattoon, IL · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

a smaller institution with 2,492 students in Mattoon, IL.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $63,651/yr, roughly in line with the $69,474 national median for Nursing. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

With a 80.3x 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.

With first-year pay of $63,651 far exceeding the $6,816 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #471 ranking among 947 Nursing programs places Lake Land College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

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

82 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
77
Low End
82
Score
83
High End
Earnings $63,651/yr (-8% 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)
80.5x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience
Program Tuition (In-State)
$8,560
Out-of-state: $27,812
Median Debt at Graduation
$6,816
1.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,389
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

See the full career breakdown for Nursing — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Lake Land College and 946 other schools.

Read the full Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Nursing Overview

Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Lake Land 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 Lake Land College's Nursing program score?
A score of 82/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Lake Land College's Nursing graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Nursing to AI automation?
The 39% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — Lake Land College graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
What's the typical debt for Nursing graduates from Lake Land College?
Median debt of just $6,816 against $63,651/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 1 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Nursing program at Lake Land 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 Lake Land College.
Is there demand for Nursing workers?
Job availability for Nursing is strong — 292,500 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Lake Land College graduates specifically, local market conditions in IL may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →