Nursing at Mount Wachusett Community College

Gardner, MA · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

a compact campus enrolling 2,554 students in Gardner, MA.

Program Analysis

At $74,618 per year, Nursing graduates from Mount Wachusett Community College earn slightly above the $69,474 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

With a 66.5x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 2% 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 $13,825 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

A #483 ranking among 947 Nursing programs places Mount Wachusett Community College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The limited growth from $74,618 to $79,212 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

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
82
High End
Earnings $74,618/yr (7% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$799K
1.5% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
66.6x
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)
$12,000
Out-of-state: $21,840
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,825
2.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$79,212
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

From day-one roles to senior positions, Nursing careers span a range of specializations. Read the complete outlook for graduates entering healthcare.

Read the full Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Nursing Overview

Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Mount Wachusett 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 Mount Wachusett Community College's Nursing program score?
At 82/100, 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?
With 39% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $780,671 in decade earnings vs $798,793 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
How affordable is Nursing at Mount Wachusett Community College?
Median debt of just $13,825 against $74,618/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.
Are there apprenticeship options for Nursing?
Beyond Mount Wachusett Community College's classroom route, 4 registered apprenticeships map to Nursing careers — including Home Health Director. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
What's the job market like for Nursing from Mount Wachusett Community College?
With approximately 292,500 annual openings across mapped careers, Nursing offers a very large employment pool. Mount Wachusett Community College graduates enter a market shaped by an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →