Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Wharton County Junior College

Wharton, TX · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

with a smaller student body of 4,832 in Wharton, TX.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $78,791 at Wharton County Junior College come in 13% above the national median of $69,474 for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs.

With a 141.3x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 0% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

With first-year pay of $78,791 far exceeding the $9,569 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Wharton County Junior College ranks #119 among 947 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

The limited growth from $78,791 to $79,891 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 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration careers — offering paid training instead of tuition costs.

89 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
83
Low End
89
Score
89
High End
Earnings $78,791/yr (13% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$824K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
141.3x
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)
$5,832
Out-of-state: $11,136
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,569
1.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$79,891
1% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration 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 →

About Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Careers

Your career begins on the front lines as a Registered Nurse. You’ll work in fast-paced hospitals or clinics, monitoring patient vitals on EKG machines, administering medications, and updating electronic health records. After gaining experience, your path can branch. You might pursue advanced clinical practice to become a Nurse Practitioner, where you’ll diagnose conditions, prescribe treatments, and manage your own patient caseload. Alternatively, you could move into leadership as a Health Services Manager, where your day involves managing staff schedules, overseeing budgets, and ensuring your department runs smoothly.

Read the full Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration career guide →

Compare & Explore

Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Overview

Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Other Schools

Other Majors at Wharton County Junior College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 89/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Wharton County Junior College?
This program scores 89/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, hands-on AI resilience, and solid financial return.
How vulnerable is Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration to AI automation?
With 39% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $824,328 in decade earnings vs $824,328 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
How affordable is Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Wharton County Junior College?
Median debt of just $9,569 against $78,791/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.
What makes Wharton County Junior College's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program stand out?
Ranked #119 of 947 programs nationally, Wharton County Junior College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Can I learn Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration through an apprenticeship instead?
Yes — 4 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration career paths, including Home Health Director. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
Is there demand for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration workers?
The career paths mapped to Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration have roughly 292,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →