Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 1,053 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff
+$154,497 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.
6.3 yrsModeled economic break-even
+60%Modeled 10-year ROI
$86,259Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$86,259Median reported earnings · year 4
$83,862Average reported earnings · year 5
$27,000Median federal debt
83thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
1,053Reporting programs
1,021With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $80,951
- Federal debt
- $24,750
- Reporting programs
- 69
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $79,954
- Federal debt
- $20,838
- Reporting programs
- 1,032
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $86,259
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 1,053
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $142,075
- Federal debt
- $24,159
- Reporting programs
- 6
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $120,338
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 447
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $135,560
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 127
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $135,340
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 31
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $128,518
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 38
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $109,913
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 5
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$79,278National median$86,25975th percentile$92,899
1,021 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1California State University, East Bay$150,9212San Francisco State University$150,1023Dominican University of California$149,6224Samuel Merritt University$148,1935Sonoma State University$143,8866University of San Francisco$143,3567Pacific Union College$140,5428California State University, Monterey Bay$134,4899Pacific College$132,14810Bushnell University$131,400Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1072 · 22 crosswalk linksRegistered NursesSOC 29-1141 · 21 crosswalk linksNurse PractitionersSOC 29-1171 · 20 crosswalk linksMedical and Health Services ManagersSOC 11-9111 · 3 crosswalk linksNurse AnesthetistsSOC 29-1151 · 1 crosswalk linksNurse MidwivesSOC 29-1161 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University, East BayBachelor's Degree | Hayward, CA | $150,921 | $18,875 | +387% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | San Francisco State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $150,102 | $16,875 | +359% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Dominican University of CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | San Rafael, CA | $149,622 | $27,000 | +226% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Samuel Merritt UniversityBachelor's Degree | Oakland, CA | $148,193 | $25,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 5 | Sonoma State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Rohnert Park, CA | $143,886 | $19,750 | +327% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | University of San FranciscoBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $143,356 | $27,000 | +184% | Strong payoff |
| 7 | Pacific Union CollegeBachelor's Degree | Angwin, CA | $140,542 | $31,000 | +178% | Strong payoff |
| 8 | California State University, Monterey BayBachelor's Degree | Seaside, CA | $134,489 | $9,489 | +281% | Strong payoff |
| 9 | Pacific CollegeBachelor's Degree | Costa Mesa, CA | $132,148 | Not available | +193% | Strong payoff |
| 10 | Bushnell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Eugene, OR | $131,400 | $28,704 | +228% | Strong payoff |
| 11 | California State University, SacramentoBachelor's Degree | Sacramento, CA | $129,960 | $19,000 | +291% | Strong payoff |
| 12 | Berkeley College-Woodland ParkBachelor's Degree | Woodland Park, NJ | $128,038 | $45,693 | +188% | Strong payoff |
| 13 | Helene Fuld College of NursingBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $127,915 | Not available | +125% | Strong payoff |
| 14 | California State University, StanislausBachelor's Degree | Turlock, CA | $126,959 | $23,450 | +301% | Strong payoff |
| 15 | CUNY Medgar Evers CollegeBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $125,792 | $21,213 | +298% | Strong payoff |
| 16 | University of BridgeportBachelor's Degree | Bridgeport, CT | $123,148 | $31,000 | +168% | Strong payoff |
| 17 | University of Mount Saint VincentBachelor's Degree | Bronx, NY | $120,822 | $30,500 | +184% | Strong payoff |
| 18 | San Diego State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $120,799 | $18,875 | +214% | Strong payoff |
| 19 | American University of Health SciencesBachelor's Degree | Signal Hill, CA | $120,284 | $48,042 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 20 | University of Hawaii at ManoaBachelor's Degree | Honolulu, HI | $120,258 | $15,308 | +210% | Strong payoff |
| 21 | California State University, San MarcosBachelor's Degree | San Marcos, CA | $120,196 | $25,047 | +240% | Strong payoff |
| 22 | University of California, IrvineBachelor's Degree | Irvine, CA | $119,502 | $13,400 | +214% | Strong payoff |
| 23 | California State University, FullertonBachelor's Degree | Fullerton, CA | $119,353 | $17,375 | +261% | Strong payoff |
| 24 | University of ProvidenceBachelor's Degree | Great Falls, MT | $119,206 | $23,847 | +196% | Strong payoff |
| 25 | CUNY Lehman CollegeBachelor's Degree | Bronx, NY | $119,115 | $20,055 | +285% | Strong payoff |
| 26 | Mount Saint Mary's UniversityBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $119,050 | $27,000 | +179% | Strong payoff |
| 27 | California State University, Dominguez HillsBachelor's Degree | Carson, CA | $118,588 | $18,750 | +243% | Strong payoff |
| 28 | University of California, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $118,566 | $20,800 | +220% | Strong payoff |
| 29 | Azusa Pacific UniversityBachelor's Degree | Azusa, CA | $118,549 | $26,898 | +174% | Strong payoff |
| 30 | New York UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $118,433 | $25,500 | +124% | Strong payoff |
| 31 | Long Island UniversityBachelor's Degree | Brookville, NY | $118,331 | $31,000 | +135% | Strong payoff |
| 32 | Mercy UniversityBachelor's Degree | Dobbs Ferry, NY | $118,232 | $35,500 | +210% | Strong payoff |
| 33 | California State University, ChicoBachelor's Degree | Chico, CA | $117,543 | $20,125 | +205% | Strong payoff |
| 34 | New York Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Old Westbury, NY | $117,461 | $35,500 | +169% | Strong payoff |
| 35 | Molloy UniversityBachelor's Degree | Rockville Centre, NY | $117,011 | $31,000 | +160% | Strong payoff |
| 36 | CUNY Graduate School and University CenterBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $116,969 | $16,593 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 37 | California State University, NorthridgeBachelor's Degree | Northridge, CA | $116,613 | $20,000 | +244% | Strong payoff |
| 38 | CUNY Hunter CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $116,361 | $16,944 | +272% | Strong payoff |
| 39 | California State University, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $116,182 | $18,964 | +263% | Strong payoff |
| 40 | Upstate Medical UniversityBachelor's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $116,111 | $24,064 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 41 | Pace UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $115,695 | $27,000 | +133% | Strong payoff |
| 42 | Point Loma Nazarene UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $114,919 | $27,000 | +109% | Strong payoff |
| 43 | National UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $114,413 | $37,375 | +156% | Strong payoff |
| 44 | Wagner CollegeBachelor's Degree | Staten Island, NY | $113,728 | $27,000 | +135% | Strong payoff |
| 45 | College of Staten Island CUNYBachelor's Degree | Staten Island, NY | $113,631 | $17,125 | +239% | Strong payoff |
| 46 | Simpson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Redding, CA | $113,623 | $28,635 | +136% | Strong payoff |
| 47 | Hawaii Pacific UniversityBachelor's Degree | Honolulu, HI | $112,964 | $25,000 | +128% | Strong payoff |
| 48 | Adelphi UniversityBachelor's Degree | Garden City, NY | $112,945 | $27,000 | +124% | Strong payoff |
| 49 | California State University, Channel IslandsBachelor's Degree | Camarillo, CA | $112,691 | $19,750 | +209% | Strong payoff |
| 50 | Fresno Pacific UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fresno, CA | $112,178 | Not available | +186% | Strong payoff |
| 51 | St. Francis CollegeBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $112,171 | $31,073 | +166% | Strong payoff |
| 52 | CUNY York CollegeBachelor's Degree | Jamaica, NY | $112,147 | $12,125 | +239% | Strong payoff |
| 53 | Stony Brook UniversityBachelor's Degree | Stony Brook, NY | $111,898 | $23,000 | +162% | Strong payoff |
| 54 | California State University, Long BeachBachelor's Degree | Long Beach, CA | $111,681 | $18,661 | +201% | Strong payoff |
| 55 | West Coast University-TexasBachelor's Degree | Richardson, TX | $111,455 | $38,145 | +69% | Positive payoff |
| 56 | West Coast University-Anaheim-Orange CountyBachelor's Degree | Anaheim, CA | $111,455 | $38,145 | +113% | Strong payoff |
| 57 | West Coast University-OntarioBachelor's Degree | Ontario, CA | $111,455 | $38,145 | +76% | Positive payoff |
| 58 | West Coast University-MiamiBachelor's Degree | Doral, FL | $111,455 | $38,145 | +114% | Strong payoff |
| 59 | California State University, FresnoBachelor's Degree | Fresno, CA | $111,278 | $17,938 | +219% | Strong payoff |
| 60 | Dominican University New YorkBachelor's Degree | Orangeburg, NY | $111,206 | $31,000 | +91% | Positive payoff |
| 61 | Biola UniversityBachelor's Degree | La Mirada, CA | $111,200 | $29,375 | +116% | Strong payoff |
| 62 | University of Hawaii at HiloBachelor's Degree | Hilo, HI | $111,027 | $26,875 | +190% | Strong payoff |
| 63 | Loma Linda UniversityBachelor's Degree | Loma Linda, CA | $110,805 | $31,645 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 64 | Olympic CollegeBachelor's Degree | Bremerton, WA | $110,085 | Not available | +212% | Strong payoff |
| 65 | University of Phoenix-ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $109,844 | $27,235 | +177% | Strong payoff |
| 66 | CUNY New York City College of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $109,738 | $11,800 | +223% | Strong payoff |
| 67 | California State University, San BernardinoBachelor's Degree | San Bernardino, CA | $109,499 | $18,116 | +225% | Strong payoff |
| 68 | Monroe UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bronx, NY | $109,427 | $33,217 | +171% | Strong payoff |
| 69 | SUNY College of Technology at DelhiBachelor's Degree | Delhi, NY | $109,387 | $24,008 | +159% | Strong payoff |
| 70 | Linfield UniversityBachelor's Degree | McMinnville, OR | $109,374 | $31,000 | +125% | Strong payoff |
| 71 | Saint Elizabeth UniversityBachelor's Degree | Morristown, NJ | $109,286 | $27,500 | +136% | Strong payoff |
| 72 | Aspen UniversityBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $109,265 | $36,787 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 73 | Bloomfield College of Montclair State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bloomfield, NJ | $109,167 | $27,031 | +120% | Strong payoff |
| 74 | Montclair State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Montclair, NJ | $109,167 | $27,031 | +165% | Strong payoff |
| 75 | Felician UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lodi, NJ | $109,098 | $31,000 | +88% | Positive payoff |
| 76 | SUNY Downstate Health Sciences UniversityBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $108,786 | $22,023 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 77 | Binghamton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Vestal, NY | $108,691 | $23,750 | +139% | Strong payoff |
| 78 | Chaminade University of HonoluluBachelor's Degree | Honolulu, HI | $108,622 | $31,000 | +115% | Strong payoff |
| 79 | Mount Saint Mary CollegeBachelor's Degree | Newburgh, NY | $108,400 | $27,000 | +125% | Strong payoff |
| 80 | California Baptist UniversityBachelor's Degree | Riverside, CA | $108,157 | $35,718 | +121% | Strong payoff |
| 81 | Farmingdale State CollegeBachelor's Degree | Farmingdale, NY | $108,029 | $21,646 | +182% | Strong payoff |
| 82 | SUNY Polytechnic InstituteBachelor's Degree | Utica, NY | $108,014 | $21,500 | +166% | Strong payoff |
| 83 | Walden UniversityBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $106,892 | $32,800 | +96% | Positive payoff |
| 84 | Miami Dade CollegeBachelor's Degree | Miami, FL | $106,415 | $12,500 | +204% | Strong payoff |
| 85 | Trinity Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $106,318 | $31,000 | +182% | Strong payoff |
| 86 | Immaculata UniversityBachelor's Degree | Immaculata, PA | $105,749 | $35,593 | +119% | Strong payoff |
| 87 | Strayer University-District of ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $105,703 | $34,040 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 88 | Strayer University-VirginiaBachelor's Degree | Arlington, VA | $105,703 | $34,040 | +135% | Strong payoff |
| 89 | Strayer University-TennesseeBachelor's Degree | Nashville, TN | $105,703 | $34,040 | +168% | Strong payoff |
| 90 | Strayer University-Global RegionBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $105,703 | $34,040 | +142% | Strong payoff |
| 91 | Concordia University-IrvineBachelor's Degree | Irvine, CA | $105,657 | $30,500 | +107% | Strong payoff |
| 92 | University of ScrantonBachelor's Degree | Scranton, PA | $105,353 | $27,000 | +95% | Positive payoff |
| 93 | Davis & Elkins CollegeBachelor's Degree | Elkins, WV | $105,127 | Not available | +138% | Strong payoff |
| 94 | Miami Regional UniversityBachelor's Degree | Miami Springs, FL | $104,989 | $33,153 | +123% | Strong payoff |
| 95 | St. Joseph's University-New YorkBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $104,818 | $27,000 | +134% | Strong payoff |
| 96 | Saint Mary's University of MinnesotaBachelor's Degree | Winona, MN | $104,761 | $40,188 | +163% | Strong payoff |
| 97 | Thomas Edison State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Trenton, NJ | $104,672 | $22,618 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 98 | Oregon Health & Science UniversityBachelor's Degree | Portland, OR | $104,592 | $32,059 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 99 | University of Maryland Global CampusBachelor's Degree | Adelphi, MD | $104,450 | $19,084 | +122% | Strong payoff |
| 100 | The College of New JerseyBachelor's Degree | Ewing, NJ | $104,369 | $26,204 | +104% | Strong payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.