Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 2,412 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing pays
Career outlook for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates
The job market for the occupations Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered nurses | 3,391,000 | +4.9% | $93,600 | Bachelor's degree |
| Medical and health services managers | 616,200 | +23.2% | $117,960 | Bachelor's degree |
| Nurse practitioners | 320,400 | +40.1% | $129,210 | Master's degree |
| Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary | 91,600 | +16.8% | $79,940 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Nurse anesthetists | 53,800 | +8.6% | $223,210 | Master's degree |
| Nurse midwives | 8,600 | +11.1% | $128,790 | Master's degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing vs similar majors
How Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing stacks up against the closest fields in Health Professions & Nursing on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Health Professions & Nursing · this major | Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences | Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies | Medicine | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 89 A | 80 A | 80 A | 80 A |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $90,077 | $226,546 | $214,065 | $162,555 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $81,393 | $212,530 | $166,304 | $65,892 |
| ROI vs cost | +453% | +1,129% | +1,565% | +708% |
| Typical debt | $26,257 | $207,643 | $81,076 | $201,913 |
| Colleges offering it | 2,412 | 33 | 6 | 155 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Imperial Valley College Imperial, CA | Certificate | $91,048 | — | +41,199% | Strong return |
| 2 | Yuba College Marysville, CA | Certificate | $132,809 | — | +33,987% | Strong return |
| 3 | Victor Valley College Victorville, CA | Certificate | $107,478 | — | +31,989% | Strong return |
| 4 | Victor Valley College Victorville, CA | Certificate | $107,274 | — | +31,885% | Strong return |
| 5 | North Florida College Madison, FL | Certificate | $70,689 | — | +31,852% | Strong return |
| 6 | Southern Regional Technical College Thomasville, GA | Certificate | $70,868 | — | +31,718% | Strong return |
| 7 | Cleveland Community College Shelby, NC | Certificate | $73,720 | — | +28,764% | Strong return |
| 8 | George C Wallace Community College-Dothan Dothan, AL | Certificate | $73,006 | — | +23,837% | Strong return |
| 9 | Modesto Junior College Modesto, CA | Certificate | $111,592 | — | +23,531% | Strong return |
| 10 | Cerritos College Norwalk, CA | Certificate | $101,438 | — | +23,183% | Strong return |
| 11 | South Texas College McAllen, TX | Certificate | $84,408 | — | +22,406% | Strong return |
| 12 | Chipola College Marianna, FL | Certificate | $67,028 | — | +19,342% | Strong return |
| 13 | College of the Sequoias Visalia, CA | Certificate | $96,263 | $6,750 | +17,338% | Strong return |
| 14 | College of San Mateo San Mateo, CA | Certificate | $135,534 | $14,715 | +15,249% | Strong return |
| 15 | Pasadena City College Pasadena, CA | Certificate | $101,040 | — | +14,403% | Strong return |
| 16 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica, CA | Certificate | $84,232 | — | +14,017% | Strong return |
| 17 | Merced College Merced, CA | Certificate | $114,563 | — | +13,702% | Strong return |
| 18 | Florence-Darlington Technical College Florence, SC | Certificate | $72,143 | — | +13,444% | Strong return |
| 19 | City College of San Francisco San Francisco, CA | Certificate | $132,408 | — | +12,557% | Strong return |
| 20 | Essex County College Newark, NJ | Certificate | $98,404 | — | +11,939% | Strong return |
| 21 | College of the Mainland Texas City, TX | Certificate | $86,657 | $5,855 | +11,886% | Strong return |
| 22 | Cypress College Cypress, CA | Certificate | $100,027 | — | +11,847% | Strong return |
| 23 | Johnston Community College Smithfield, NC | Certificate | $65,719 | — | +11,566% | Strong return |
| 24 | Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CA | Certificate | $92,598 | — | +11,364% | Strong return |
| 25 | Allan Hancock College Santa Maria, CA | Certificate | $106,411 | — | +11,308% | Strong return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.