Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at North Dakota State College of Science

Wahpeton, ND · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

a compact campus enrolling 1,733 students in Wahpeton, ND.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $59,229 track close to the $69,474 national median for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 59.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration's career paths, with 39% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 13% gap from the optimistic case.

At $18,773 in median debt against $59,229 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #668 of 947 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs, North Dakota State College of Science falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $69,172 are relatively flat compared to the $59,229 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

There are 4 registered apprenticeship pathways mapped to Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration, including Home Health Director (median $117,960/yr). Apprenticeships offer an alternative route that combines paid work with structured training.

78 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
72
Low End
78
Score
79
High End
Earnings $59,229/yr (-15% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$710K
4.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
59.9x
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)
$11,856
Out-of-state: $13,852
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,773
3.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$69,172
17% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration 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 →

About Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Careers

Your career begins on the front lines as a Registered Nurse. You’ll work in fast-paced hospitals or clinics, monitoring patient vitals on EKG machines, administering medications, and updating electronic health records. After gaining experience, your path can branch. You might pursue advanced clinical practice to become a Nurse Practitioner, where you’ll diagnose conditions, prescribe treatments, and manage your own patient caseload. Alternatively, you could move into leadership as a Health Services Manager, where your day involves managing staff schedules, overseeing budgets, and ensuring your department runs smoothly.

Read the full Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration career guide →

Compare & Explore

Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Overview

Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Other Schools

Other Majors at North Dakota State College of Science

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at North Dakota State College of Science?
A score of 78/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but North Dakota State College of Science trails the majority of Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Will AI affect Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration careers?
With 39% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $619,668 in decade earnings vs $709,656 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates?
There are 4 registered apprenticeships connected to Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration workers?
With approximately 292,500 annual openings across mapped careers, Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →