Nursing at Mesa Community College

Mesa, AZ · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

enrolling 12,049 students in Mesa, AZ.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $73,639/yr, edging above the $69,474 national average for Nursing — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 172.3x 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 5% gap from the optimistic case.

At $6,606 in median debt against $73,639 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #47 of 947 nationally, this is a top-5% Nursing program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $80,387 are relatively flat compared to the $73,639 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.

90 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
84
Low End
90
Score
90
High End
Earnings $73,639/yr (6% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$814K
2.2% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
172.7x
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)
$4,716
Out-of-state: $17,916
Median Debt at Graduation
$6,606
1.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$80,387
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 Mesa Community College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Mesa Community College's Nursing program score?
A score of 90/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Mesa Community College's Nursing graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
What's the AI risk for Nursing graduates from Mesa Community College?
AI exposure of 39% is a real factor. For Mesa Community College specifically, the gap between optimistic ($814,339) and pessimistic ($770,425) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.
What's the typical debt for Nursing graduates from Mesa Community College?
Median debt of just $6,606 against $73,639/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.
What makes Mesa Community College's Nursing program stand out?
Ranked #47 of 947 programs nationally, Mesa Community College lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Nursing graduates?
If Mesa Community 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?
At 292,500 annual openings, Nursing has a very large employment base. Mesa 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 →