Nursing at Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
68 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
68
Optimistic
68
Base Case
66
Pessimistic
Earnings $66,647/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk High (39% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)
ROI 4.4x earnings multiple
Ranked #819 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 Nursing graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $690K $688K $621K
Earnings Multiple 4.4x 4.4x 4.0x
Probability of Field Employment 87% 86% 64%
DegreeOutlook Score 68 68 66

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$156,280
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$93,740
40% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,558
4.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$71,296
7% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Mount Mercy University's Nursing program produces graduates earning $66,647/yr — within striking distance of the $75,273 national average for this field.

The 4.4x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 39% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $23,558 in median debt clears quickly against $66,647 in annual earnings.

At #819 out of 990 programs, Mount Mercy University's financial outcomes for Nursing trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth is modest: $66,647 to $71,296 over five years (7% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About Mount Mercy University

A 79% acceptance rate means Mount Mercy University is accessible to most applicants, a compact campus enrolling 1,135 students in Cedar Rapids, IA. The average net cost of $93,740 over four years represents a 40% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Mount Mercy 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

Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Mount Mercy University

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

How does Mount Mercy University's Nursing program score?
A score of 68/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Mount Mercy University trails the majority of Nursing programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →