Nursing at McNeese State University

Lake Charles, LA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
85 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
85
Optimistic
85
Base Case
82
Pessimistic
Earnings $77,239/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk High (39% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)
ROI 24.6x earnings multiple (20.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #210 of 990 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs Top 25%

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 $834K $831K $726K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 24.6x 24.6x 21.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 20.9x 20.9x 18.2x
Probability of Field Employment 87% 86% 64%
DegreeOutlook Score 85 85 82
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$33,840
Out-of-state: $39,840 (20.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$45,028
-33% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,011
3.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$72,067
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $77,239/yr, roughly in line with the $75,273 national median for Nursing. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 24.6x 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 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $77,239 far exceeding the $23,011 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #210 out of 990 programs, McNeese State University's Nursing program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

About McNeese State University

A 68% admission rate makes McNeese State University accessible to a wide range of qualified students, a smaller institution with 4,846 students in Lake Charles, LA.

See all programs and financial aid at McNeese State 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

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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

How does McNeese State University's Nursing program score?
A score of 85/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. McNeese State University'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.
Why does McNeese State University rank so high for Nursing?
The #210 ranking out of 990 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →