Nursing at Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
81 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
81
Optimistic
81
Base Case
78
Pessimistic
Earnings $75,149/yr (-0% vs median)
AI Risk High (39% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)
ROI 12.3x earnings multiple (9.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #405 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 $757K $755K $670K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.4x 12.3x 10.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.9x 9.9x 8.8x
Probability of Field Employment 87% 86% 64%
DegreeOutlook Score 81 81 78

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$61,192
Out-of-state: $76,392 (9.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$74,804
-22% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,500
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$79,100
5% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $75,149 track close to the $75,273 national median for Nursing programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 12.3x 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.

At $25,500 in median debt against $75,149 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #405 out of 990 programs, Western Michigan University's Nursing offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $75,149 to $79,100 over five years (5% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University has a 85% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 12,704 students in Kalamazoo, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Michigan 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

Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Western Michigan University

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 Western Michigan University's Nursing program score?
A score of 81/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Western Michigan University'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 →