Program Analysis
Graduates earn $70,938/yr, roughly in line with the $75,273 national median for Nursing. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.7x 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 10% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $70,938 far exceeding the $22,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #313 of 990 Nursing programs, Missouri Western State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $72,447 are relatively flat compared to the $70,938 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.