Nursing at Missouri State University-West Plains

West Plains, MO · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

with a smaller student body of 860 in West Plains, MO.

Program Analysis

At $56,681 per year, Nursing graduates from Missouri State University-West Plains earn below the $69,474 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 54.7x 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 2% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $14,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #682 of 947 Nursing programs, Missouri State University-West Plains falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $60,237 are relatively flat compared to the $56,681 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.

77 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
72
Low End
77
Score
77
High End
Earnings $56,681/yr (-18% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$608K
1.5% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
54.8x
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)
$11,088
Out-of-state: $15,260
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,750
3.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$60,237
6% 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 Missouri State University-West Plains

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 Missouri State University-West Plains's Nursing program score?
At 77/100, 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.
How vulnerable is Nursing to AI automation?
AI won't eliminate Nursing careers, but it may reshape them. At Missouri State University-West Plains, a score of 77/100 already accounts for the 39% task exposure — the ROI calculation factors in reduced employment probability.
What's the typical debt for Nursing graduates from Missouri State University-West Plains?
At $14,750 in median debt, Nursing graduates from Missouri State University-West Plains carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.3x is well below the trade program average.
Why are Nursing earnings lower at Missouri State University-West Plains?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Are there apprenticeship options for Nursing?
The DOL recognizes 4 apprenticeship pathways related to Nursing. For students weighing Missouri State University-West Plains's program cost against alternatives, apprenticeships offer zero-tuition entry with paid employment from day one.
Is there demand for Nursing workers?
The career paths mapped to Nursing have roughly 292,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →