Home Schools Dakota Wesleyan University Nursing
Health Professions · Nursing Rank #734 of 990

Nursingat Dakota Wesleyan University

Graduates earn $67,981/yr in their first year — about 10.0% below the national Nursing average. Base-case 10-year earnings $762K; scenarios range from $675K to $764K depending on AI disruption.

Mitchell, SD Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
72 STRONG
72
Optimistic
70
Pessimistic
Earnings
$67,981
1-year post-graduation
ROI
5.0x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$762K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
43% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Dakota Wesleyan University

Graduates earn $67,981/yr, roughly in line with the $75,273 national median for Nursing. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 5.8x 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 12% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $67,981 far exceeding the $24,855 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #734 of 990 Nursing programs, Dakota Wesleyan University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $78,645 are relatively flat compared to the $67,981 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$675K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score70/100
Earnings Multiple5.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$762K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score72/100
Earnings Multiple5.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$764K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score72/100
Earnings Multiple5.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Dakota Wesleyan University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Nursing graduates typically work

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.

1
Nurse anesthetists
+8.6% 10-yr growth · 2,700 openings/yr
$223,210/yr
Low
2
Nurse practitioners
+40.1% 10-yr growth · 29,500 openings/yr
$129,210/yr
Moderate
3
Nurse midwives
+11.1% 10-yr growth · 500 openings/yr
$128,790/yr
Moderate
4
Medical and health services managers
+23.2% 10-yr growth · 62,100 openings/yr
$117,960/yr
Moderate
5
Registered nurses
+4.9% 10-yr growth · 189,100 openings/yr
$93,600/yr
Moderate
6
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
+16.8% 10-yr growth · 8,600 openings/yr
$79,940/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Nursing

How Dakota Wesleyan University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Sonoma State University
CA · Public
91
DW Score
$126K
1-yr earn
39.1x
ROI
California State University-East Bay
CA · Public
91
DW Score
$124K
1-yr earn
56.0x
ROI
Samuel Merritt University
CA · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$119K
1-yr earn
California State University-Stanislaus
CA · Public
91
DW Score
$119K
1-yr earn
38.2x
ROI
Pacific Union College
CA · Private nonprofit
82
DW Score
$119K
1-yr earn
8.9x
ROI

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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Nursing at Dakota Wesleyan University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Nursing at Dakota Wesleyan University?

This program scores 72/100 — 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 $675,178 in decade earnings vs $764,237 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.