Nursing at California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
91 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
91
Optimistic
91
Base Case
88
Pessimistic
Earnings $116,001/yr (54% vs median)
AI Risk High (39% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)
ROI 42.7x earnings multiple (16.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #11 of 990 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs Top 1%

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 $1,306K $1,300K $1,072K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 42.9x 42.7x 35.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 16.8x 16.7x 13.8x
Probability of Field Employment 87% 86% 64%
DegreeOutlook Score 91 91 88

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,408
Out-of-state: $77,928 (16.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$42,048
-38% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,750
1.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$138,606
19% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Sacramento Nursing graduates command $116,001/yr out of the gate, well above the $75,273 national median. That 54% premium suggests the program's reputation carries real labor-market weight.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 42.7x 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 18% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $13,750 in median debt clears quickly against $116,001 in annual earnings.

Ranked #11 of 990 Nursing programs nationally, California State University-Sacramento sits in the top 1% — one of the strongest programs in the country by financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $138,606 are relatively flat compared to the $116,001 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About California State University-Sacramento

A 94% acceptance rate means California State University-Sacramento is accessible to most applicants, with 27,867 students enrolled in Sacramento, CA. 49% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Sacramento →

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 California State University-Sacramento

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Nursing at California State University-Sacramento?
This program scores 91/100 — 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 $1,071,820 in decade earnings vs $1,305,883 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes California State University-Sacramento's Nursing program stand out?
Ranked #11 of 990 programs nationally, California State University-Sacramento lands in the top 1%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →