Nursing at Ocean County College

Toms River, NJ · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

with a mid-sized student body of 5,566 in Toms River, NJ.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $82,925/yr, edging above the $69,474 national average for Nursing — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

The 92.5x 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 0% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Nursing graduates.

At $18,843 in median debt against $82,925 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #253 out of 947 programs, Ocean County College's Nursing offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $82,925 to $85,080 over five years (3% gain). This trade may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

Nursing 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
81
Low End
86
Score
86
High End
Earnings $82,925/yr (19% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$868K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
92.5x
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)
$9,380
Out-of-state: $13,700
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,843
2.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$85,080
3% 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

Nursing opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Nursing Overview

Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Ocean County College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Ocean County College's Nursing program score?
At 86/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
How vulnerable is Nursing to AI automation?
AI won't eliminate Nursing careers, but it may reshape them. At Ocean County College, a score of 86/100 already accounts for the 39% task exposure — the ROI calculation factors in reduced employment probability.
What's the typical debt for Nursing graduates from Ocean County College?
Median debt of just $18,843 against $82,925/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.
Are there apprenticeship options for Nursing?
If Ocean County College's tuition gives you pause, consider that 4 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Nursing. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
Is there demand for Nursing workers?
At 292,500 annual openings, Nursing has a very large employment base. Ocean County College graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →