Home Schools Mount Mercy University Nursing
Health Professions · Nursing Rank #819 of 990

Nursingat Mount Mercy University

Graduates earn $66,647/yr in their first year — about 11.0% below the national Nursing average. Base-case 10-year earnings $688K; scenarios range from $621K to $690K depending on AI disruption.

Cedar Rapids, IA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
68 SOLID
68
Optimistic
66
Pessimistic
Earnings
$66,647
1-year post-graduation
ROI
3.6x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$688K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
43% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Mount Mercy University

Mount Mercy University's Nursing program produces graduates earning $66,647/yr — within striking distance of the $75,273 national average for this field.

The 4.4x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 39% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $23,558 in median debt clears quickly against $66,647 in annual earnings.

At #819 out of 990 programs, Mount Mercy University's financial outcomes for Nursing trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth is modest: $66,647 to $71,296 over five years (7% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

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
$621K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score66/100
Earnings Multiple4.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$688K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score68/100
Earnings Multiple4.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$690K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score68/100
Earnings Multiple4.4x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Mount Mercy 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 Mount Mercy 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
Also at Mount Mercy University

Other top programs at Mount Mercy University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Mount Mercy University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

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 Mount Mercy University

How does Mount Mercy University's Nursing program score?

A score of 68/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Mount Mercy University trails the majority of Nursing programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.

How vulnerable is Nursing to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Nursing 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.