Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Dakota Wesleyan University

Mitchell, SD · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
72 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
72
Optimistic
72
Base Case
70
Pessimistic
Earnings $67,981/yr (-10% vs median)
AI Risk High (39% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)
ROI 5.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #734 of 990 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs

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 $764K $762K $675K
Earnings Multiple 5.8x 5.8x 5.1x
Probability of Field Employment 87% 86% 64%
DegreeOutlook Score 72 72 70

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$131,560
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$77,200
41% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,855
4.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$78,645
16% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $67,981/yr, roughly in line with the $75,273 national median for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 5.8x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration's typical career paths, with 39% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 12% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $67,981 far exceeding the $24,855 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #734 of 990 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs, Dakota Wesleyan University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $78,645 are relatively flat compared to the $67,981 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Dakota Wesleyan University

Dakota Wesleyan University accepts 73% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 661 students in Mitchell, SD. The average net cost of $77,200 over four years represents a 41% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Dakota Wesleyan University →

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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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Dakota Wesleyan University?
This program scores 72/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration careers?
With 39% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $675,178 in decade earnings vs $764,237 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →