Nursingat University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Graduates earn $69,618/yr in their first year — about 8.0% below the national Nursing average. Base-case 10-year earnings $709K; scenarios range from $636K to $711K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
First-year earnings of $69,618 track close to the $75,273 national median for Nursing programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
The 25.7x 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 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
At $20,413 in median debt against $69,618 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
Ranked #204 out of 990 programs, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith's Nursing program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
Earnings growth is modest: $69,618 to $73,763 over five years (6% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.
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 University of Arkansas-Fort Smith'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 University of Arkansas-Fort Smith stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, 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 University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
How does University of Arkansas-Fort Smith's Nursing program score?
A score of 85/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Arkansas-Fort Smith'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 Arkansas-Fort Smith rank so high for Nursing?
The #204 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.