Nursing at Aurora University

Aurora, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
75 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
74
Optimistic
75
Base Case
72
Pessimistic
Earnings $72,520/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk High (39% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)
ROI 6.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #594 of 990 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Nursing graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $770K $768K $680K
Earnings Multiple 6.8x 6.8x 6.0x
Probability of Field Employment 87% 86% 64%
DegreeOutlook Score 74 75 72

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$112,880
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$75,968
33% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,654
3.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$80,026
10% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $72,520/yr, roughly in line with the $75,273 national median for Nursing. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

At 6.8x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 39% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $72,520 far exceeding the $22,654 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #594 out of 990 programs, Aurora University's financial outcomes for Nursing trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth is modest: $72,520 to $80,026 over five years (10% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About Aurora University

Aurora University accepts 85% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 4,021 in Aurora, IL. Pell Grant recipients make up 43% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity. The average net cost of $75,968 over four years represents a 33% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Aurora University →

Top Career Paths

Nurse anesthetists $223,210/yr
Nurse practitioners $129,210/yr
Nurse midwives $128,790/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Aurora University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Aurora University's Nursing program score?
A score of 75/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Aurora University trails the majority of Nursing programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Nursing to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Nursing careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 39% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →