Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Southern Maine Community College

South Portland, ME · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

serving 5,279 students in South Portland, ME.

Program Analysis

At $67,850/yr, Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates from Southern Maine Community College land near the $69,474 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 96.7x 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 4% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates.

The median debt load of $13,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #318 out of 947 programs, Southern Maine Community College's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $67,850 to $72,849 over five years (7% gain). This trade may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

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.

85 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
80
Low End
85
Score
86
High End
Earnings $67,850/yr (-2% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$736K
1.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
96.9x
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)
$7,594
Out-of-state: $13,354
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,500
2.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$72,849
7% 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 Southern Maine 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 Southern Maine Community College's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program score?
At 85/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Will AI affect Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration careers?
The 39% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
What's the typical debt for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates from Southern Maine Community College?
Median debt of just $13,500 against $67,850/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.
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.
Is there demand for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration workers?
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 →