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Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $68,294/yr (-9% vs median)

AI Risk High (39% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

ROI 15.9x earnings multiple (6.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #361 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 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$729K	$727K	$649K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.9x	15.9x	14.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.7x	6.7x	6.0x
Probability of Field Employment	87%	86%	64%
DegreeOutlook Score	81	82	80

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$45,744

Out-of-state: $108,000 (6.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$43,664

5% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,647

4.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$75,333

10% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Western Kentucky University's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program produces graduates earning $68,294/yr — within striking distance of the $75,273 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration's typical career paths, with 39% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 11% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $22,647 in median debt clears quickly against $68,294 in annual earnings.

At #361 of 990 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs, Western Kentucky University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $75,333 are relatively flat compared to the $68,294 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Western Kentucky University

A 97% acceptance rate means Western Kentucky University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 12,267 students in Bowling Green, KY.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Kentucky 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

Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Other Schools

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Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Western Kentucky University?

This program scores 82/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

Will AI replace Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration careers?

With 39% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $649,237 in decade earnings vs $728,814 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →