Nursing at North Iowa Area Community College

Mason City, IA · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

a smaller institution with 1,271 students in Mason City, IA.

Program Analysis

North Iowa Area Community College's Nursing graduates start at $58,096/yr, trailing the $69,474 national average by 16%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

With a 55.7x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 16% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Nursing career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $13,250 in median debt clears fast against $58,096 in annual earnings.

A #680 ranking among 947 Nursing programs places North Iowa Area Community College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 20% earnings increase from $58,096 to $69,839 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

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

77 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
71
Low End
77
Score
78
High End
Earnings $58,096/yr (-16% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$721K
4.7% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
56.0x
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)
$12,872
Out-of-state: $18,490
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,250
2.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$69,839
20% 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 North Iowa Area Community College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 77/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Nursing at North Iowa Area Community College?
A score of 77/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but North Iowa Area Community College trails the majority of Nursing programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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 $607,813 in decade earnings vs $720,908 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What's the typical debt for Nursing graduates from North Iowa Area Community College?
Median debt of just $13,250 against $58,096/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Can you still earn well with Nursing from North Iowa Area Community College?
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.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Nursing graduates?
There are 4 registered apprenticeships connected to Nursing occupations, such as Home Health Director and Long Term Care Nurse Management. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Will Nursing graduates from North Iowa Area Community College find jobs?
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 →