Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at Waubonsee Community College

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

enrolling 5,499 students in Sugar Grove, IL.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $66,440/yr, roughly in line with the $69,474 national median for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 106.0x 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 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates.

With first-year pay of $66,440 far exceeding the $9,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #233 out of 947 programs, Waubonsee Community College's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth is modest: $66,440 to $72,033 over five years (8% 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.

86 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
80
Low End
86
Score
86
High End
Earnings $66,440/yr (-4% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$729K
2.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
106.2x
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)
$6,864
Out-of-state: $24,660
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,000
1.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$72,033
8% 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 Waubonsee Community College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Waubonsee Community College's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program score?
At 86/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
How vulnerable is Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration to AI automation?
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.
What's the typical debt for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates from Waubonsee Community College?
Median debt of just $9,000 against $66,440/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.
Is Waubonsee Community College one of the best schools for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration?
Ranked #233 of 947 programs nationally, Waubonsee Community College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates?
Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration connects to 4 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
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 →