Nursing at Cabrillo College

Aptos, CA · Public · Certificate · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

enrolling 7,404 students in Aptos, CA.

Program Analysis

Graduates of Cabrillo College's Nursing program earn $91,090/yr in their first year — 31% above the $69,474 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

With a 1155.7x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

Career paths for Nursing carry above-average AI exposure (39% of tasks). The 36% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.

At $15,000 in median debt against $91,090 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Among 947 Nursing programs nationally, Cabrillo College ranks #10 — elite territory by any measure of graduate financial outcomes.

A 49% earnings increase from $91,090 to $135,694 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

For students considering alternatives, 4 registered apprenticeship programs align with Nursing careers — offering paid training instead of tuition costs.

91 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
85
Low End
91
Score
92
High End
Earnings $91,090/yr (31% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$1,485K
10.5% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
1169.6x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$1,270
Out-of-state: $9,910
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
2.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$135,694
49% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Nursing graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Nurse anesthetists $223,210 +8.6% 83%
Nurse practitioners $129,210 +40.1% 52%
Nurse midwives $128,790 +11.1% 61%
Nurse anesthetists
$223,210
+8.6% growth 83% AI-proof
Nurse practitioners
$129,210
+40.1% growth 52% AI-proof
Nurse midwives
$128,790
+11.1% growth 61% AI-proof

View all 6 career paths with full salary data →

Nursing Career Guide

Nursing opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Nursing Overview

Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Cabrillo College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Cabrillo College's Nursing program score?
At 91/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
What's the AI risk for Nursing graduates from Cabrillo College?
AI exposure of 39% is a real factor. For Cabrillo College specifically, the gap between optimistic ($1,485,374) and pessimistic ($953,004) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.
What's the typical debt for Nursing graduates from Cabrillo College?
Median debt of just $15,000 against $91,090/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
What makes Cabrillo College's Nursing program stand out?
The #10 ranking out of 947 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Nursing graduates?
If Cabrillo College's tuition gives you pause, consider that 4 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Nursing. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
How many job openings are there for Nursing graduates?
The career paths mapped to Nursing have roughly 292,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →