Nursing at Western Nevada College

Carson City, NV · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

a compact campus enrolling 1,967 students in Carson City, NV.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $82,312/yr, edging above the $69,474 national average for Nursing — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 117.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Nursing programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Nursing's career paths, with 39% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

At $19,048 in median debt against $82,312 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #139 of 947 nationally, this is a top-5% Nursing program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $90,729 are relatively flat compared to the $82,312 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

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

88 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
82
Low End
88
Score
88
High End
Earnings $82,312/yr (18% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$921K
2.5% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
117.4x
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)
$7,840
Out-of-state: $24,038
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,048
2.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$90,729
10% 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

See the full career breakdown for Nursing — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Western Nevada College and 946 other schools.

Read the full Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Nursing Overview

Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Western Nevada College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Western Nevada College's Nursing program score?
At 88/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Will AI affect Nursing careers?
AI exposure of 39% is a real factor. For Western Nevada College specifically, the gap between optimistic ($920,645) and pessimistic ($861,165) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.
How affordable is Nursing at Western Nevada College?
Median debt of just $19,048 against $82,312/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Why does Western Nevada College rank so high for Nursing?
Ranked #139 of 947 programs nationally, Western Nevada College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Can I learn Nursing through an apprenticeship instead of Western Nevada College?
Beyond Western Nevada 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.
Will Nursing graduates from Western Nevada College find jobs?
With approximately 292,500 annual openings across mapped careers, Nursing offers a very large employment pool. Western Nevada 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 →