Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at West Kentucky Community and Technical College

Paducah, KY · Public · Associate Degree · Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

a smaller institution with 2,810 students in Paducah, KY.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $58,951/yr fall 15% below the $69,474 national median for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 67.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration'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.

At $11,068 in median debt against $58,951 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #582 of 947 Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs, West Kentucky Community and Technical College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $62,565 are relatively flat compared to the $58,951 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

There are 4 registered apprenticeship pathways mapped to Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration, 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
80
High End
Earnings $58,951/yr (-15% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (61% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (292,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$631K
1.5% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
67.8x
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)
$9,312
Out-of-state: $12,384
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,068
2.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,565
6% 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 West Kentucky Community and Technical College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does West Kentucky Community and Technical College's Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration program score?
This program scores 80/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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.
How affordable is Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration at West Kentucky Community and Technical College?
Median debt of just $11,068 against $58,951/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 West Kentucky Community and Technical College a good choice for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If West Kentucky Community and Technical College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
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.
How many job openings are there for Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration graduates?
With approximately 292,500 annual openings across mapped careers, Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →