Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Oakton College

Des Plaines, IL · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

enrolling 6,229 students in Des Plaines, IL.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $69,434/yr, roughly in line with the $69,474 national median for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 98.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 39% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates.

Ranked #231 out of 947 programs, Oakton College's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth is modest: $69,434 to $77,715 over five years (12% gain). This trade may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration connects to 4 apprenticeship options. The earn-while-you-learn model can be a strong alternative or complement to a certificate program.

86 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
80
Low End
86
Score
86
High End
Earnings $69,434/yr (-0% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$791K
2.9% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
99.2x
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)
$7,970
Out-of-state: $24,924
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$77,715
12% 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 Oakton 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 Oakton College's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program score?
A score of 86/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Oakton College's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration to AI automation?
With 39% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $726,434 in decade earnings vs $790,756 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Oakton College one of the best schools for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration?
Ranked #231 of 947 programs nationally, Oakton College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
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.
How many job openings are there for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates?
The career paths mapped to Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration have roughly 292,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →