Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Mesa Community College

Mesa, AZ · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

enrolling 12,049 students in Mesa, AZ.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $73,639/yr, edging above the $69,474 national average for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 172.3x 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 career paths, with 39% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.

At $6,606 in median debt against $73,639 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #47 of 947 nationally, this is a top-5% Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $80,387 are relatively flat compared to the $73,639 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

There are 4 registered apprenticeship pathways mapped to Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration, including Home Health Director (median $117,960/yr). Apprenticeships offer an alternative route that combines paid work with structured training.

90 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
84
Low End
90
Score
90
High End
Earnings $73,639/yr (6% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$814K
2.2% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
172.7x
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)
$4,716
Out-of-state: $17,916
Median Debt at Graduation
$6,606
1.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$80,387
9% growth from Year 1

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 Mesa Community 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 Mesa Community College's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program score?
A score of 90/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Mesa Community College's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
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 $770,425 in decade earnings vs $814,339 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What's the typical debt for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates from Mesa Community College?
Median debt of just $6,606 against $73,639/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 1 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
What makes Mesa Community College's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program stand out?
Ranked #47 of 947 programs nationally, Mesa Community College lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Can I learn Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration through an apprenticeship instead?
There are 4 registered apprenticeships connected to Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
How many job openings are there for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates?
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 →