Nursing at Southwestern Illinois College

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

serving 5,280 students in Belleville, IL.

Program Analysis

At $65,290/yr, Nursing graduates from Southwestern Illinois College land near the $69,474 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

With a 91.3x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 4% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Nursing career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

The median debt load of $7,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

A #359 ranking among 947 Nursing programs places Southwestern Illinois College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The limited growth from $65,290 to $70,117 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.

84 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
79
Low End
84
Score
85
High End
Earnings $65,290/yr (-6% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$708K
1.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
91.5x
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)
$7,740
Out-of-state: $12,420
Median Debt at Graduation
$7,500
1.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$70,117
7% 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 Southwestern Illinois 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

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Nursing at Southwestern Illinois College?
At 84/100, 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 Southwestern Illinois College, a score of 84/100 already accounts for the 39% task exposure — the ROI calculation factors in reduced employment probability.
How affordable is Nursing at Southwestern Illinois College?
Median debt of just $7,500 against $65,290/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 1 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Nursing program at Southwestern Illinois College?
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.
What's the job market like for Nursing from Southwestern Illinois 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 →