Nursing at Walden University

Minneapolis, MN · Private for-profit · Bachelor's Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
88 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
88
Optimistic
88
Base Case
85
Pessimistic
Earnings $88,877/yr (18% vs median)
AI Risk High (39% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)
ROI 18.4x earnings multiple
Ranked #80 of 990 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs Top 10%

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 $925K $922K $793K
Earnings Multiple 18.5x 18.4x 15.9x
Probability of Field Employment 87% 86% 64%
DegreeOutlook Score 88 88 85

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$49,992
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,341
2.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$97,647
10% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Walden University's Nursing graduates start at $88,877/yr — above the $75,273 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 18.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Nursing programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Nursing's typical career paths, with 39% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 14% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $20,341 in median debt clears quickly against $88,877 in annual earnings.

Ranked #80 of 990 programs, Walden University's Nursing program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $97,647 are relatively flat compared to the $88,877 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Walden University

enrolling 7,337 students in Minneapolis, MN. 50% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Walden 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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For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Nursing at Walden University?
This program scores 88/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Nursing nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.
Will AI replace Nursing careers?
With 39% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $792,843 in decade earnings vs $924,919 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →