Nursing at Onondaga Community College

Syracuse, NY · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

a compact campus enrolling 4,349 students in Syracuse, NY.

Program Analysis

At $70,178/yr, Nursing graduates from Onondaga Community College land near the $69,474 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 61.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Nursing programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Nursing's career paths, with 39% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 2% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $15,575 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #603 of 947 Nursing programs, Onondaga Community College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $74,338 are relatively flat compared to the $70,178 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

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

80 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
75
Low End
80
Score
81
High End
Earnings $70,178/yr (1% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$749K
1.5% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
62.0x
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)
$12,084
Out-of-state: $22,664
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,575
2.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$74,338
6% 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 Onondaga Community College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Onondaga Community College's Nursing program score?
A score of 80/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Onondaga Community College trails the majority of Nursing programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
What's the AI risk for Nursing graduates from Onondaga Community College?
With 39% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $734,218 in decade earnings vs $749,391 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
How affordable is Nursing at Onondaga Community College?
Median debt of just $15,575 against $70,178/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Nursing program at Onondaga Community College?
Yes — 4 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Nursing career paths, including Home Health Director. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at Onondaga Community College.
How many job openings are there for Nursing graduates?
The very large job market (292,500 annual openings) works in favor of Nursing graduates. The national outlook is driven by an aging population and expanding healthcare access, though regional variation matters.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →