Nursing at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

Magnolia, AR · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
83 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
83
Optimistic
83
Base Case
82
Pessimistic
Earnings $67,213/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk High (39% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)
ROI 19.4x earnings multiple (12.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #295 of 990 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs Top 50%

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 $763K $761K $674K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.4x 19.4x 17.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 12.4x 12.3x 10.9x
Probability of Field Employment 87% 86% 64%
DegreeOutlook Score 83 83 82

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$39,280
Out-of-state: $61,600 (12.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$63,776
-62% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
3.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$78,343
17% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $67,213/yr, Nursing graduates from Southern Arkansas University Main Campus land near the $75,273 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 19.4x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $19,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #295 out of 990 programs, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus's Nursing offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $67,213 to $78,343 over five years (17% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus accepts 67% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, a smaller institution with 2,865 students in Magnolia, AR. 45% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus →

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 Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Southern Arkansas University Main Campus's Nursing program score?
A score of 83/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus'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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →