Nursing at Richland Community College

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

with a smaller student body of 1,412 in Decatur, IL.

Program Analysis

Richland Community College's Nursing program produces graduates earning $68,635/yr — within striking distance of the $69,474 national average for this trade.

With a 78.8x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 1% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Nursing career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $9,730 in median debt clears fast against $68,635 in annual earnings.

A #415 ranking among 947 Nursing programs places Richland Community College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The limited growth from $68,635 to $71,957 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

For students considering alternatives, 4 registered apprenticeship programs align with Nursing careers — offering paid training instead of tuition costs.

83 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
78
Low End
83
Score
83
High End
Earnings $68,635/yr (-1% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$724K
1.2% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
78.9x
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)
$9,180
Out-of-state: $34,140
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,730
1.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$71,957
5% 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 Richland Community 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 Richland Community College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Richland Community College's Nursing program score?
A score of 83/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Richland Community College's Nursing graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Nursing to AI automation?
AI exposure of 39% is a real factor. For Richland Community College specifically, the gap between optimistic ($724,252) and pessimistic ($718,074) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.
How affordable is Nursing at Richland Community College?
At $9,730 in median debt, Nursing graduates from Richland Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.1x is well below the trade program average.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Nursing graduates?
There are 4 registered apprenticeships connected to Nursing occupations, such as Home Health Director and Long Term Care Nurse Management. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Will Nursing graduates from Richland Community College find jobs?
The career paths mapped to Nursing have roughly 292,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →