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Health Professions · Nursing Rank #57 of 990

Nursingat National University

Graduates earn $99,714/yr in their first year — about 32.0% above the national Nursing average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,011K; scenarios range from $859K to $1,015K depending on AI disruption.

San Diego, CA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
89 ELITE
89
Optimistic
86
Pessimistic
Earnings
$99,714
1-year post-graduation
ROI
19.3x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$1,011K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
43% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at National University

National University's nursing outcomes reflect the dynamic San Diego healthcare market, where strong demand for skilled professionals across major systems like UCSD Health, Scripps, and Kaiser Permanente drives competitive compensation. The program's comprehensive focus, extending beyond general Registered Nursing to include administration and advanced clinical practice, directly positions you for leadership and specialized, high-earning roles. This prepares graduates for the advanced expertise required for positions like Nurse Practitioners or Nurse Anesthetists, which are highly valued in this region. You're entering a robust ecosystem with numerous clinical opportunities. To truly capitalize on this, actively explore the program's specific advanced tracks and pursue internships or clinical placements that directly align with your target high-demand specialization within the local healthcare landscape.

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
$859K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score86/100
Earnings Multiple16.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$1,011K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score89/100
Earnings Multiple19.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$1,015K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score89/100
Earnings Multiple19.1x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to National 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 National 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
Same state (CA)
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 National University

Other top programs at National University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at National 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 National University

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.