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Nursing at College of the Ozarks

Point Lookout, MO · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $57,521/yr (-24% vs median)

AI Risk High (39% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

ROI 7.5x earnings multiple

Ranked #794 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	$643K	$642K	$586K
Earnings Multiple	7.5x	7.5x	6.9x
Probability of Field Employment	87%	86%	64%
DegreeOutlook Score	68	69	68

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$85,160

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$30,676

64% less than sticker · See by income

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$65,255

13% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $57,521/yr fall 24% below the $75,273 national median for Nursing. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 7.5x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Nursing's typical career paths, with 39% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Ranked #794 of 990 Nursing programs, College of the Ozarks falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $65,255 are relatively flat compared to the $57,521 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About College of the Ozarks

College of the Ozarks admits 15% of applicants — among the most selective institutions in the country, a smaller institution with 1,415 students in Point Lookout, MO. Pell Grant recipients make up 44% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $30,676 — 64% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at College of the Ozarks →

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 College of the Ozarks

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Nursing at College of the Ozarks?

This program scores 69/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Nursing programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

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 $586,346 in decade earnings vs $642,929 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Nursing from College of the Ozarks?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Is College of the Ozarks a hidden gem for Nursing?

After financial aid, the average student pays $30,676 over four years — 64% below the $85,160 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →