Nursing at University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
82 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
81
Optimistic
82
Base Case
80
Pessimistic
Earnings $69,368/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk High (39% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)
ROI 16.1x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #359 of 990 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs Top 50%

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 $708K $706K $634K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.1x 16.1x 14.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.4x 5.4x 4.8x
Probability of Field Employment 87% 86% 64%
DegreeOutlook Score 81 82 80

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,856
Out-of-state: $131,708 (5.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$85,592
-95% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,734
3.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$73,476
6% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $69,368/yr, Nursing graduates from University of Iowa land near the $75,273 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.1x 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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $17,734 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #359 of 990 Nursing programs, University of Iowa scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $73,476 are relatively flat compared to the $69,368 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About University of Iowa

With 85% of applicants admitted, University of Iowa prioritizes broad access, one of the larger campuses at 21,691 students in Iowa City, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Iowa →

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 Iowa

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Nursing at University of Iowa?
This program scores 82/100 — 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 $634,084 in decade earnings vs $708,121 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →