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Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · 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 $80,808/yr (7% vs median)

AI Risk High (39% exposed)

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

ROI 25.5x earnings multiple (8.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #77 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 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$951K	$947K	$812K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	25.6x	25.5x	21.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.5x	8.5x	7.3x
Probability of Field Employment	87%	86%	64%
DegreeOutlook Score	89	89	86

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$37,144

Out-of-state: $111,412 (8.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$74,720

-101% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$9,369

1.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$98,502

22% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Western Washington University's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates start at $80,808/yr — above the $75,273 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 25.5x 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 15% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $9,369 in median debt clears quickly against $80,808 in annual earnings.

Ranked #77 of 990 programs, Western Washington University's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $80,808 to $98,502 over five years — a 22% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Western Washington University

A 91% acceptance rate means Western Washington University is accessible to most applicants, serving 13,574 students in Bellingham, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Washington 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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Explore the Trade Alternative

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 Washington University?

This program scores 89/100 — 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 $811,708 in decade earnings vs $950,680 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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