Program Analysis
At $74,490/yr, Nursing graduates from Western Illinois University land near the $75,273 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
The 12.8x 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 $20,559 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Ranked #400 out of 990 programs, Western Illinois University's Nursing offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Earnings growth is modest: $74,490 to $80,342 over five years (8% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.