Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Gaston College

Dallas, NC · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

a compact campus enrolling 3,359 students in Dallas, NC.

Program Analysis

Gaston College's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program produces graduates earning $68,245/yr — within striking distance of the $69,474 national average for this trade.

The 115.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 39% task exposure — and the 3% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates.

Ranked #192 out of 947 programs, Gaston College's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration connects to 4 apprenticeship options. The earn-while-you-learn model can be a strong alternative or complement to a certificate program.

87 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
81
Low End
87
Score
87
High End
Earnings $68,245/yr (-2% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings
$68K
Reported median after graduation
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
115.9x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience
Program Tuition (In-State)
$6,372
Out-of-state: $18,660
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$64,239
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration 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 →

About Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Careers

Your career begins on the front lines as a Registered Nurse. You’ll work in fast-paced hospitals or clinics, monitoring patient vitals on EKG machines, administering medications, and updating electronic health records. After gaining experience, your path can branch. You might pursue advanced clinical practice to become a Nurse Practitioner, where you’ll diagnose conditions, prescribe treatments, and manage your own patient caseload. Alternatively, you could move into leadership as a Health Services Manager, where your day involves managing staff schedules, overseeing budgets, and ensuring your department runs smoothly.

Read the full Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration career guide →

Compare & Explore

Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration Overview

Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Other Schools

Other Majors at Gaston College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Gaston College's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program score?
At 87/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration?
With 39% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $713,994 in decade earnings vs $738,611 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Gaston College's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program stand out?
The #192 ranking out of 947 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
Can I learn Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration through an apprenticeship instead?
Yes — 4 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration career paths, including Home Health Director. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
Is there demand for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration workers?
With approximately 292,500 annual openings across mapped careers, Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →