Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

Fort Smith, AR · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
85 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
85
Optimistic
85
Base Case
83
Pessimistic
Earnings $69,618/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk High (39% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)
ROI 25.7x earnings multiple (12.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #204 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 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $711K $709K $636K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 25.7x 25.7x 23.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 12.9x 12.9x 11.5x
Probability of Field Employment 87% 86% 64%
DegreeOutlook Score 85 85 83

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$27,624
Out-of-state: $55,080 (12.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$40,388
-46% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,413
3.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$73,763
6% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $69,618 track close to the $75,273 national median for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration 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 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration 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.

About University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

University of Arkansas-Fort Smith has a 81% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a compact campus enrolling 4,133 students in Fort Smith, AR.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith →

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

Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Other Schools

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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 Arkansas-Fort Smith's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program score?
A score of 85/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Arkansas-Fort Smith's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration 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 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration?
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →