Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at California State University-Monterey Bay

Seaside, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
91 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
91
Optimistic
91
Base Case
88
Pessimistic
Earnings $117,088/yr (56% vs median)
AI Risk High (39% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)
ROI 41.3x earnings multiple (15.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #27 of 990 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,235K $1,230K $1,020K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 41.5x 41.3x 34.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 16.0x 15.9x 13.2x
Probability of Field Employment 87% 86% 64%
DegreeOutlook Score 91 91 88

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,748
Out-of-state: $77,268 (15.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$57,948
-95% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$5,500
0.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$132,226
13% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $117,088 per year, Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates from California State University-Monterey Bay significantly outpace the $75,273 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

The 41.3x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 39% task exposure — and the 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $5,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #27 out of 990 programs, California State University-Monterey Bay's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth is modest: $117,088 to $132,226 over five years (13% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About California State University-Monterey Bay

With 95% of applicants admitted, California State University-Monterey Bay prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 5,811 in Seaside, CA. With 43% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Monterey Bay →

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

Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Monterey Bay

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 California State University-Monterey Bay's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program score?
A score of 91/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. California State University-Monterey Bay's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration 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.
Why does California State University-Monterey Bay rank so high for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration?
The #27 ranking out of 990 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →