Nursing at University of Dubuque

Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
66 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
66
Optimistic
66
Base Case
65
Pessimistic
Earnings $66,628/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk High (39% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)
ROI 4.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #869 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 $655K $654K $595K
Earnings Multiple 4.1x 4.1x 3.7x
Probability of Field Employment 87% 86% 64%
DegreeOutlook Score 66 66 65

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$160,260
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$93,000
42% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,617
5.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$67,829
2% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $66,628 track close to the $75,273 national median for Nursing programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 4.1x 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 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $27,617 in median debt against $66,628 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #869 out of 990 programs, University of Dubuque's financial outcomes for Nursing trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth is modest: $66,628 to $67,829 over five years (2% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About University of Dubuque

University of Dubuque has a 87% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a compact campus enrolling 1,473 students in Dubuque, IA. Pell Grant recipients make up 40% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity. The average net cost of $93,000 over four years represents a 42% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Dubuque →

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 University of Dubuque

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 University of Dubuque's Nursing program score?
A score of 66/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Dubuque 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 →