Nursing at Riverland Community College

Austin, MN · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

with a smaller student body of 1,895 in Austin, MN.

Program Analysis

At $69,481/yr, Nursing graduates from Riverland Community College land near the $69,474 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 60.0x 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 3% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Nursing graduates.

The median debt load of $17,180 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

At #587 out of 947 programs, Riverland Community College's financial outcomes for Nursing trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

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

80 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
75
Low End
80
Score
80
High End
Earnings $69,481/yr (0% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$752K
1.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
60.2x
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
$12,500
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,180
3.0 months of Year 1 earnings

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

Explore what Nursing graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 947 programs nationwide.

Read the full Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Nursing Overview

Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Riverland Community College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Riverland Community College's Nursing program score?
This program scores 80/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Nursing programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
How vulnerable is Nursing to AI automation?
AI won't eliminate Nursing careers, but it may reshape them. At Riverland Community College, a score of 80/100 already accounts for the 39% task exposure — the ROI calculation factors in reduced employment probability.
How affordable is Nursing at Riverland Community College?
At $17,180 in median debt, Nursing graduates from Riverland Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
Can I learn Nursing through an apprenticeship instead of Riverland Community College?
If Riverland Community 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.
What's the job market like for Nursing from Riverland Community College?
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 →