Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing bachelor's degree outcomes at Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC · Public · Federal field 5138

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings trail the same-degree benchmark.

$9,377 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 29.1% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $41,333 / year
10-year scenario: +48% · Positive payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+6%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$68,774 → $72,955

154Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

138Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

189Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

227Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$23,199Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

0Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$13,315

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$23,163

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$79,533

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$246/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$13,315Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$19,992Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE81.8%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE60.3%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$68,774Year 1

$79,533Year 4

$72,955Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.7% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$6,628

Estimated loan payment$246

227borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$79,533 vs. $88,910

$9,377 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$80,400 median wageNC estimate · 2,560 jobs · 25-1072+17.1% projected U.S. growth · 8.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeRegistered Nurses$84,350 median wageNC estimate · 111,120 jobs · 29-1141+5.6% projected U.S. growth · 180.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNurse Practitioners$128,990 median wageNC estimate · 9,800 jobs · 29-1171+41.0% projected U.S. growth · 29.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeMedical and Health Services Managers$114,410 median wageNC estimate · 14,820 jobs · 11-9111+24.2% projected U.S. growth · 62.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNurse Anesthetists$224,610 median wageNC estimate · 3,340 jobs · 29-1151+9.7% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeNurse Midwives$126,040 median wageNC estimate · 240 jobs · 29-1161+11.5% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degree

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