Nursing at Southwestern Community College

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

with a smaller student body of 1,304 in Sylva, NC.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $61,931 track close to the $69,474 national median for Nursing programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

With a 64.0x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 13% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Nursing career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

At $12,244 in median debt against $61,931 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

A #641 ranking among 947 Nursing programs places Southwestern Community College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The limited growth from $61,931 to $72,733 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 Nursing careers — offering paid training instead of tuition costs.

79 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
73
Low End
79
Score
80
High End
Earnings $61,931/yr (-11% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$747K
4.1% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
64.3x
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)
$11,612
Out-of-state: $39,260
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,244
2.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$72,733
17% 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

What can you do with a Nursing credential from Southwestern Community College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Nursing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Nursing Overview

Nursing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Southwestern Community College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 79/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Nursing at Southwestern Community College?
This program scores 79/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Nursing programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
How vulnerable is Nursing to AI automation?
AI exposure of 39% is a real factor. For Southwestern Community College specifically, the gap between optimistic ($747,050) and pessimistic ($647,935) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.
What's the typical debt for Nursing graduates from Southwestern Community College?
At $12,244 in median debt, Nursing graduates from Southwestern Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Nursing graduates?
Beyond Southwestern Community College's classroom route, 4 registered apprenticeships map to Nursing careers — including Home Health Director. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
Will Nursing graduates from Southwestern Community College find jobs?
The career paths mapped to Nursing have roughly 292,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →