Nursing at National University

San Diego, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
89 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
89
Optimistic
89
Base Case
86
Pessimistic
Earnings $99,714/yr (32% vs median)
AI Risk High (39% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)
ROI 19.0x earnings multiple
Ranked #57 of 990 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs Top 10%

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 $1,015K $1,011K $859K
Earnings Multiple 19.1x 19.0x 16.1x
Probability of Field Employment 87% 86% 64%
DegreeOutlook Score 89 89 86

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$53,280
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$124,232
-133% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$33,928
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$108,119
8% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $99,714 per year, Nursing graduates from National University significantly outpace the $75,273 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 19.0x 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 15% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $33,928 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #57 of 990 programs, National University's Nursing program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $108,119 are relatively flat compared to the $99,714 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About National University

serving 9,725 students in San Diego, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at National University →

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 National University

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 National University?
This program scores 89/100 — 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 $858,835 in decade earnings vs $1,015,037 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →