Nursing at Northwestern College

Oak Lawn, IL · Private for-profit · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

a smaller institution with 464 students in Oak Lawn, IL.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $62,746/yr, roughly in line with the $69,474 national median for Nursing. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

With a 26.3x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

Career paths for Nursing carry above-average AI exposure (39% of tasks). The 33% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.

With first-year pay of $62,746 far exceeding the $27,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #870 ranking among 947 Nursing programs places Northwestern College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 44% earnings increase from $62,746 to $90,597 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.

70 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
62
Low End
70
Score
71
High End
Earnings $62,746/yr (-10% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$982K
9.6% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
26.6x
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
$36,950
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$90,597
44% 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

What can you do with a Nursing credential from Northwestern College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Nursing Overview

Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Northwestern College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Northwestern College's Nursing program score?
This program scores 70/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Nursing programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $656,461 in decade earnings vs $981,876 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Are there apprenticeship options for Nursing?
Yes — 4 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Nursing career paths, including Home Health Director. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at Northwestern College.
What's the job market like for Nursing from Northwestern College?
With approximately 292,500 annual openings across mapped careers, Nursing offers a very large employment pool. Northwestern 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 →