Nursing

947 schools compared · Average earnings $69,475/yr

Quick Facts: Nursing Training

Where it's offered

Nursing programs are offered at 947 schools across 51 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.

Earnings expectations

Graduates earn approximately $69,475/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.

Apprenticeship pathways

The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 4 registered apprenticeship pathways related to Nursing — earn-while-you-learn alternatives to traditional schooling. See apprenticeship.gov for the federal registry.

Program quality benchmark

Across the 947 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 66/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.

What Nursing Graduates Do

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 more

This field offers exceptional growth, especially for advanced roles like Nurse Practitioners and managers. Your progression often starts with building foundational skills as an RN before pursuing the additional education needed for these specializations. This advancement comes with significant financial rewards; you'll start with a strong salary that can grow dramatically as you move into six-figure specialist positions. While AI tools will likely assist with diagnostics and administrative tasks, the core of your work—requiring critical judgment, hands-on care, and human connection—remains secure.

If Nursing doesn't fit your goals, programs like Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bioethics, and Speech-Language Pathology draw from adjacent skill sets.

Schools Offering
947
Avg Grad Earnings
$69,475/yr
Avg TradeSchoolOutlook Score
66/100
Apprenticeship Paths
4

Registered Apprenticeship Pathways

The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 4 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Nursing. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.

Apprenticeship Training Hours Type Salary RangeSalary Growth
Home Health Director
RAPIDS 1108CB
Competency Competency $89K$117,960$162K 23.2%
Long Term Care Nurse Management
RAPIDS 1105CL
Competency Competency $89K$117,960$162K 23.2%
Registered Nurse Resident
RAPIDS 2074CB
Competency Competency $79K$93,600$108K 4.9%
Senior Housing Manager
RAPIDS 1109CB
Competency Competency $89K$117,960$162K 23.2%

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.

Find Nursing Programs in Your State

Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. Nursing is offered at 947 schools across 51 states. Pick your state to see a local comparison (states with fewer programs link to the state hub).

Compare 947 Nursing programs side by side in our full ranking →

Top Nursing Programs Nationally

For context, here are the highest-scoring Nursing programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.

Top 20 of 947 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.

# School Score Earnings ROI
1 Yuba College
Marysville, CA
92
85–92
$117,283/yr 587.7x
2 Merced College
Merced, CA
92
85–92
$107,024/yr 478.7x
3 Contra Costa College
San Pablo, CA
92
85–92
$101,064/yr 514.9x
4 Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa, CA
92
85–92
$100,800/yr 499.0x
5 Sacramento City College
Sacramento, CA
92
85–92
$100,622/yr 503.6x
6 Mendocino College
Ukiah, CA
91
85–92
$113,261/yr 397.0x
7 Moorpark College
Moorpark, CA
91
85–92
$105,599/yr 326.3x
8 Butte College
Oroville, CA
91
85–92
$104,268/yr 407.1x
9 Columbia College
Sonora, CA
91
85–92
$103,727/yr 358.4x
10 Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara, CA
91
85–92
$101,955/yr 428.7x
11 City College of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
91
85–92
$100,031/yr 389.4x
12 Lemoore College
Lemoore, CA
91
85–92
$99,992/yr 396.8x
13 Coalinga College
Coalinga, CA
91
85–92
$99,984/yr 395.5x
14 Ventura College
Ventura, CA
91
85–92
$99,778/yr 354.9x
15 Shasta College
Redding, CA
91
85–92
$99,544/yr 482.6x
16 Modesto Junior College
Modesto, CA
91
85–92
$99,339/yr 438.3x
17 Cuesta College
San Luis Obispo, CA
91
85–92
$99,000/yr 362.0x
18 American River College
Sacramento, CA
91
85–92
$98,951/yr 441.8x
19 College of the Sequoias
Visalia, CA
91
85–92
$98,926/yr 344.3x
20 College of Marin
Kentfield, CA
91
85–92
$98,893/yr 316.4x

Highest Earning Nursing Programs

Schools where Nursing graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School 1-Year Earnings Score
University of Pennsylvania $160,797/yr 72
Unitek College $120,006/yr 74
Yuba College $117,283/yr 92
Mendocino College $113,261/yr 91
Pacific Union College $110,696/yr 70
Merced College $107,024/yr 92
Moorpark College $105,599/yr 91
American Career College-Los Angeles $105,516/yr 74
Carrington College-Sacramento $104,423/yr 74
Butte College $104,268/yr 91

Best ROI for Nursing

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Nursing.

School ROI Multiple Earnings Score
Cabrillo College 1067.5x $91,090/yr 91
Yuba College 587.7x $117,283/yr 92
Contra Costa College 514.9x $101,064/yr 92
Sacramento City College 503.6x $100,622/yr 92
Santa Rosa Junior College 499.0x $100,800/yr 92
Shasta College 482.6x $99,544/yr 91
Merced College 478.7x $107,024/yr 92
Antelope Valley Community College District 465.0x $89,234/yr 91
Los Angeles City College 458.9x $83,699/yr 91
American River College 441.8x $98,951/yr 91

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Considering a 4-Year Degree?

Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Nursing degree programs stack up on earnings and ROI.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Nursing graduates make in their first year?
First-year earnings for Nursing graduates average $69,475 annually, based on data from 947 programs. The range spans $11,149 at the low end to $160,797 at the top.
How safe is Nursing from automation and AI?
AI resilience for Nursing is classified as "Resilient." Approximately 57% of typical job tasks are hands-on — most the daily work involves skills that current AI technology cannot perform.
Where should I study Nursing?
Yuba College leads all 947 programs with a TradeSchoolOutlook Score of 92/100. Graduates earn $117,283/yr — the ranking weighs earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size equally.
What's the ROI on a Nursing program?
On average, Nursing graduates earn 96.0x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a strong return on investment.
Data from College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034, and DOL RAPIDS. Methodology & sources →