Nursing at William Paterson University of New Jersey

Wayne, NJ · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
86 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
86
Optimistic
86
Base Case
83
Pessimistic
Earnings $92,257/yr (23% vs median)
AI Risk High (39% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)
ROI 14.9x earnings multiple (9.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #186 of 990 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs Top 25%

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 $908K $904K $780K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.0x 14.9x 12.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.3x 9.2x 8.0x
Probability of Field Employment 87% 86% 64%
DegreeOutlook Score 86 86 83

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$60,600
Out-of-state: $97,856 (9.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$71,056
-17% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,793
2.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$96,443
5% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $92,257/yr, edging above the $75,273 national average for Nursing — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 14.9x 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 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $21,793 in median debt against $92,257 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #186 out of 990 programs, William Paterson University of New Jersey's Nursing program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth is modest: $92,257 to $96,443 over five years (5% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About William Paterson University of New Jersey

William Paterson University of New Jersey has a 93% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 6,526 in Wayne, NJ. 44% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at William Paterson University of New Jersey →

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 William Paterson University of New Jersey

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

How does William Paterson University of New Jersey's Nursing program score?
A score of 86/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. William Paterson University of New Jersey'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.
Why does William Paterson University of New Jersey rank so high for Nursing?
The #186 ranking out of 990 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →