Nursingat The College of New Jersey
Graduates earn $85,986/yr in their first year — about 14.0% above the national Nursing average. Base-case 10-year earnings $935K; scenarios range from $802K to $938K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at TCNJ
The College of New Jersey's Nursing graduates start at $85,986/yr — above the $75,273 national average, though not by a wide margin.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.5x 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 14% gap from the optimistic case.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $27,000 in median debt clears quickly against $85,986 in annual earnings.
At #268 of 990 Nursing programs, The College of New Jersey scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $98,401 are relatively flat compared to the $85,986 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 TCNJ'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 TCNJ stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at TCNJ
Other highest-scoring programs offered at TCNJ, 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 TCNJ
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Nursing at The College of New Jersey?
This program scores 84/100 — 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 $802,486 in decade earnings vs $938,086 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.