Nursingat California State University-Los Angeles
Graduates earn $98,811/yr in their first year — about 31.0% above the national Nursing average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,142K; scenarios range from $955K to $1,147K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Cal State LA
The exceptional outcomes for Cal State LA's nursing program reflect the robust healthcare economy of Southern California. Los Angeles is a dynamic hub for major hospital systems like Cedars-Sinai, Kaiser Permanente, and UCLA Health, creating consistent, high demand for skilled nurses. The program's practical curriculum and strong clinical partnerships position graduates directly into these high-paying roles across the region. You'll find opportunities across diverse specialties, from emergency care to pediatrics, often starting in large medical centers and eventually specializing or pursuing advanced practice. While AI is transforming some administrative and diagnostic aspects of healthcare, your direct patient care and critical thinking skills remain irreplaceable. Focus on leveraging your clinical rotations to build relationships and explore niche areas that align with your long-term career aspirations.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Cal State LA's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Nursing
How Cal State LA stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Cal State LA
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Cal State LA, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Nursing offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Nursing trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Nursing at Cal State LA
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Nursing at California State University-Los Angeles?
This program scores 91/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Nursing nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Nursing careers?
With 39% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $955,198 in decade earnings vs $1,146,626 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes California State University-Los Angeles's Nursing program stand out?
Ranked #9 of 990 programs nationally, California State University-Los Angeles lands in the top 1%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.