Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Odessa College

Odessa, TX · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

with a smaller student body of 4,176 in Odessa, TX.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $72,138/yr, roughly in line with the $69,474 national median for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 147.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration's career paths, with 39% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 3% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $72,138 far exceeding the $11,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #118 of 947 nationally, this is a top-5% Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

There are 4 registered apprenticeship pathways mapped to Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration, including Home Health Director (median $117,960/yr). Apprenticeships offer an alternative route that combines paid work with structured training.

89 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
83
Low End
89
Score
89
High End
Earnings $72,138/yr (4% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings
$72K
Reported median after graduation
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
147.9x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience
Program Tuition (In-State)
$5,280
Out-of-state: $9,612
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,500
1.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$65,190
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

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 Odessa 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 Odessa College's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program score?
At 89/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration?
AI won't 'replace' Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration careers outright, but it is likely to reduce job openings. We model 39% task exposure, which compresses employment probability in our scenarios.
What's the typical debt for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates from Odessa College?
Median debt of just $11,500 against $72,138/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Why does Odessa College rank so high for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration?
Ranked #118 of 947 programs nationally, Odessa 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 →