Nursing at Salish Kootenai College

Pablo, MT · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

a smaller institution with 568 students in Pablo, MT.

Program Analysis

At $52,607 per year, Nursing graduates from Salish Kootenai College earn below the $69,474 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The 75.3x 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 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Nursing graduates.

At #594 out of 947 programs, Salish Kootenai College's financial outcomes for Nursing trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $52,607 to $63,203 shows 20% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

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
73
Low End
80
Score
80
High End
Earnings $52,607/yr (-24% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$652K
4.7% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
75.7x
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)
$8,622
Out-of-state: $23,166
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$63,203
20% 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

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

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 Salish Kootenai College's Nursing program score?
A score of 80/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Salish Kootenai College trails the majority of Nursing programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Should I worry about AI if I study Nursing at Salish Kootenai College?
AI exposure of 39% is a real factor. For Salish Kootenai College specifically, the gap between optimistic ($652,323) and pessimistic ($550,385) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.
Why are Nursing earnings lower at Salish Kootenai College?
Starting salary is one data point. If Salish Kootenai College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Can I learn Nursing through an apprenticeship instead of Salish Kootenai College?
Beyond Salish Kootenai College's classroom route, 4 registered apprenticeships map to Nursing careers — including Home Health Director. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
What's the job market like for Nursing from Salish Kootenai College?
With approximately 292,500 annual openings across mapped careers, Nursing offers a very large employment pool. Salish Kootenai College graduates enter a market shaped by an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →