Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration 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 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration. 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 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration 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 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration 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 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration 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 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 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 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program score?
This program scores 70/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
How vulnerable is Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration to AI automation?
The 39% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Can I learn Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration through an apprenticeship instead?
Yes — 4 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration career paths, including Home Health Director. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
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 →