Nursingat Salem State University
Graduates earn $80,641/yr in their first year — about 7.0% above the national Nursing average. Base-case 10-year earnings $856K; scenarios range from $745K to $859K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Salem State University
Salem State University's Nursing graduates start at $80,641/yr — above the $75,273 national average, though not by a wide margin.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.9x 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 13% gap from the optimistic case.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $27,000 in median debt clears quickly against $80,641 in annual earnings.
At #140 of 990 nationally, this is a top-5% Nursing program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $89,918 are relatively flat compared to the $80,641 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Salem State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Nursing
How Salem State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Salem State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Salem State 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 →Frequently asked about Nursing at Salem State University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Nursing at Salem State University?
This program scores 87/100 — 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 $744,508 in decade earnings vs $858,911 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Salem State University's Nursing program stand out?
Ranked #140 of 990 programs nationally, Salem State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.