Nursingat University of South Carolina-Columbia
Graduates earn $73,872/yr in their first year — about 2.0% below the national Nursing average. Base-case 10-year earnings $716K; scenarios range from $641K to $717K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of South Carolina
Graduates earn $73,872/yr, roughly in line with the $75,273 national median for Nursing. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
The 14.1x 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.
With first-year pay of $73,872 far exceeding the $23,375 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #373 out of 990 programs, University of South Carolina-Columbia's Nursing offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Earnings growth is modest: $73,872 to $74,996 over five years (2% 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 South Carolina'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 South Carolina stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of South Carolina
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of South Carolina, 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 South Carolina
How does University of South Carolina-Columbia's Nursing program score?
A score of 82/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of South Carolina-Columbia'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.