Nursing at University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
84 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
84
Optimistic
84
Base Case
81
Pessimistic
Earnings $78,168/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk High (39% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)
ROI 15.0x earnings multiple (5.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #250 of 990 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs Top 25%

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 $818K $815K $714K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.0x 15.0x 13.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.0x 5.0x 4.3x
Probability of Field Employment 87% 86% 64%
DegreeOutlook Score 84 84 81

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$54,504
Out-of-state: $164,380 (5.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$63,840
-17% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$85,529
9% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $78,168/yr, roughly in line with the $75,273 national median for Nursing. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 15.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 39% task exposure — and the 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $78,168 far exceeding the $21,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #250 out of 990 programs, University of Arizona's Nursing program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth is modest: $78,168 to $85,529 over five years (9% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About University of Arizona

University of Arizona accepts 86% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 40,769 in Tucson, AZ.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Arizona →

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 University of Arizona

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

How does University of Arizona's Nursing program score?
A score of 84/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Arizona's Nursing graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
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.
Why does University of Arizona rank so high for Nursing?
The #250 ranking out of 990 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →