Home Schools University of Dubuque Nursing
Health Professions · Nursing Rank #869 of 990

Nursingat University of Dubuque

Graduates earn $66,628/yr in their first year — about 11.0% below the national Nursing average. Base-case 10-year earnings $654K; scenarios range from $595K to $655K depending on AI disruption.

Dubuque, IA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
66 SOLID
66
Optimistic
65
Pessimistic
Earnings
$66,628
1-year post-graduation
ROI
3.2x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$654K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
43% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Dubuque

First-year earnings of $66,628 track close to the $75,273 national median for Nursing programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 4.1x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 39% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $27,617 in median debt against $66,628 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #869 out of 990 programs, University of Dubuque's financial outcomes for Nursing trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth is modest: $66,628 to $67,829 over five years (2% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$595K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score65/100
Earnings Multiple3.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$654K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score66/100
Earnings Multiple4.1x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$655K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score66/100
Earnings Multiple4.1x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Dubuque's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Nursing graduates typically work

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.

1
Nurse anesthetists
+8.6% 10-yr growth · 2,700 openings/yr
$223,210/yr
Low
2
Nurse practitioners
+40.1% 10-yr growth · 29,500 openings/yr
$129,210/yr
Moderate
3
Nurse midwives
+11.1% 10-yr growth · 500 openings/yr
$128,790/yr
Moderate
4
Medical and health services managers
+23.2% 10-yr growth · 62,100 openings/yr
$117,960/yr
Moderate
5
Registered nurses
+4.9% 10-yr growth · 189,100 openings/yr
$93,600/yr
Moderate
6
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
+16.8% 10-yr growth · 8,600 openings/yr
$79,940/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Nursing

How University of Dubuque stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Sonoma State University
CA · Public
91
DW Score
$126K
1-yr earn
39.1x
ROI
California State University-East Bay
CA · Public
91
DW Score
$124K
1-yr earn
56.0x
ROI
Samuel Merritt University
CA · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$119K
1-yr earn
California State University-Stanislaus
CA · Public
91
DW Score
$119K
1-yr earn
38.2x
ROI
Pacific Union College
CA · Private nonprofit
82
DW Score
$119K
1-yr earn
8.9x
ROI
Also at University of Dubuque

Other top programs at University of Dubuque

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Dubuque, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Nursing at University of Dubuque

How does University of Dubuque's Nursing program score?

A score of 66/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Dubuque trails the majority of Nursing programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.

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.