Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Richland Community College

Decatur, IL · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

with a smaller student body of 1,412 in Decatur, IL.

Program Analysis

Richland Community College's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program produces graduates earning $68,635/yr — within striking distance of the $69,474 national average for this trade.

With a 78.8x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 1% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $9,730 in median debt clears fast against $68,635 in annual earnings.

A #415 ranking among 947 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs places Richland Community College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The limited growth from $68,635 to $71,957 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

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

83 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
78
Low End
83
Score
83
High End
Earnings $68,635/yr (-1% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$724K
1.2% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
78.9x
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)
$9,180
Out-of-state: $34,140
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,730
1.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$71,957
5% 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 Richland Community 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 Richland Community College's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program score?
A score of 83/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Richland 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?
AI won't 'replace' Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration careers outright, but it is likely to reduce job openings. We model 39% task exposure, which compresses employment probability in our scenarios.
How affordable is Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Richland Community College?
At $9,730 in median debt, Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates from Richland Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.1x is well below the trade program average.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates?
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?
The career paths mapped to Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration have roughly 292,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →