Nursing at Dalton State College

Dalton, GA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
90 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
90
Optimistic
90
Base Case
87
Pessimistic
Earnings $78,830/yr (5% vs median)
AI Risk High (39% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)
ROI 66.7x earnings multiple (21.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #39 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 Nursing graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $879K $876K $759K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 67.0x 66.7x 57.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 21.6x 21.5x 18.6x
Probability of Field Employment 87% 86% 64%
DegreeOutlook Score 90 90 87

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$13,132
Out-of-state: $40,756 (21.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$18,776
-43% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,699
2.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$91,520
16% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Dalton State College's Nursing program produces graduates earning $78,830/yr — within striking distance of the $75,273 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 66.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Nursing programs nationally.

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 14% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $14,699 in median debt clears quickly against $78,830 in annual earnings.

At #39 of 990 nationally, this is a top-5% Nursing program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $91,520 are relatively flat compared to the $78,830 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Dalton State College

a smaller institution with 4,419 students in Dalton, GA. With 50% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Dalton State College →

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 Dalton State College

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 Dalton State College?
This program scores 90/100 — 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 $759,463 in decade earnings vs $879,333 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Dalton State College's Nursing program stand out?
Ranked #39 of 990 programs nationally, Dalton State College lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →