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DOCTORAL DEGREE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 5138

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing: is this doctoral degree worth it?

National picture across 127 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$135,560 in median year-4 earnings

A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.

$135,560Median year-4 earnings

$20,318Average institution net-price context

Not availableMedian federal debt

Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$135,560Median reported earnings · year 4

$142,827Average reported earnings · year 5

Not availableMedian federal debt

81thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

127Reporting programs

127With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

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

63 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $79,954
Federal debt: $20,838
Reporting programs: 1,032

1,007 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $86,259
Federal debt: $27,000
Reporting programs: 1,053

1,021 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Post-baccalaureate Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $142,075
Federal debt: $24,159
Reporting programs: 6

3 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $120,338
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 447

447 report earnings →CURRENT VIEW

Doctoral Degree

Year-4 earnings: $135,560
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 127

127 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

First Professional Degree

Year-4 earnings: $135,340
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 31

31 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Graduate/Professional Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $128,518
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 38

38 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)

Year-4 earnings: $109,913
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 5

5 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

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$126,439National median$135,56075th percentile$159,655

127 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1Millikin University$324,655 2Marshall University$235,983 3Midwestern University-Downers Grove$230,075 4Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University$228,735 5Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science$224,804 6Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science$224,291 7Bryan College of Health Sciences$222,935 8Missouri State University-Springfield$218,334 9California State University, Fresno$207,668 10Virginia Commonwealth University$206,527

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

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

BEST COLLEGES FOR REGISTERED NURSING, NURSING ADMINISTRATION, NURSING RESEARCH AND CLINICAL NURSING

Same degree, different outcomes

Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.

#	College	Location	Earnings, year 4	Federal debt	ROI status	Cost context
1	Millikin UniversityDoctoral Degree	Decatur, IL	$324,655	Not available	Baseline needed	$21,989
2	Marshall UniversityDoctoral Degree	Huntington, WV	$235,983	Not available	Baseline needed	$7,502
3	Midwestern University-Downers GroveDoctoral Degree	Downers Grove, IL	$230,075	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
4	Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady UniversityDoctoral Degree	Baton Rouge, LA	$228,735	Not available	Baseline needed	$18,552
5	Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and ScienceDoctoral Degree	Rochester, MN	$224,804	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
6	Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and ScienceDoctoral Degree	North Chicago, IL	$224,291	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
7	Bryan College of Health SciencesDoctoral Degree	Lincoln, NE	$222,935	Not available	Baseline needed	$26,919
8	Missouri State University-SpringfieldDoctoral Degree	Springfield, MO	$218,334	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,613
9	California State University, FresnoDoctoral Degree	Fresno, CA	$207,668	Not available	Baseline needed	$7,000
10	Virginia Commonwealth UniversityDoctoral Degree	Richmond, VA	$206,527	Not available	Baseline needed	$23,433
11	University of San FranciscoDoctoral Degree	San Francisco, CA	$201,545	Not available	Baseline needed	$41,431
12	Texas Christian UniversityDoctoral Degree	Fort Worth, TX	$200,329	Not available	Baseline needed	$36,660
13	University of Cincinnati-Main CampusDoctoral Degree	Cincinnati, OH	$199,296	Not available	Baseline needed	$25,648
14	The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonDoctoral Degree	Houston, TX	$197,063	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
15	University of Southern MississippiDoctoral Degree	Hattiesburg, MS	$191,713	Not available	Baseline needed	$21,708
16	Murray State UniversityDoctoral Degree	Murray, KY	$189,508	Not available	Baseline needed	$9,096
17	DePaul UniversityDoctoral Degree	Chicago, IL	$187,364	Not available	Baseline needed	$30,902
18	Union UniversityDoctoral Degree	Jackson, TN	$182,606	Not available	Baseline needed	$27,171
19	California State University, FullertonDoctoral Degree	Fullerton, CA	$181,807	Not available	Baseline needed	$6,555
20	University of San DiegoDoctoral Degree	San Diego, CA	$178,950	Not available	Baseline needed	$30,365
21	University of PennsylvaniaDoctoral Degree	Philadelphia, PA	$176,358	Not available	Baseline needed	$28,699
22	University of MiamiDoctoral Degree	Coral Gables, FL	$174,255	Not available	Baseline needed	$37,244
23	Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New OrleansDoctoral Degree	New Orleans, LA	$170,420	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
24	Loma Linda UniversityDoctoral Degree	Loma Linda, CA	$167,117	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
25	Columbia University in the City of New YorkDoctoral Degree	New York, NY	$164,885	Not available	Baseline needed	$21,590
26	Fairfield UniversityDoctoral Degree	Fairfield, CT	$163,093	Not available	Baseline needed	$48,095
27	Duke UniversityDoctoral Degree	Durham, NC	$161,843	Not available	Baseline needed	$29,612
28	University of Nevada-RenoDoctoral Degree	Reno, NV	$161,545	Not available	Baseline needed	$15,927
29	Rutgers University-CamdenDoctoral Degree	Camden, NJ	$161,430	Not available	Baseline needed	$18,745
30	Rutgers University-New BrunswickDoctoral Degree	New Brunswick, NJ	$161,430	Not available	Baseline needed	$24,406
31	Rutgers University-NewarkDoctoral Degree	Newark, NJ	$161,430	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,703
32	Yale UniversityDoctoral Degree	New Haven, CT	$159,655	Not available	Baseline needed	$23,777
33	Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleDoctoral Degree	Edwardsville, IL	$157,682	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,889
34	University at BuffaloDoctoral Degree	Buffalo, NY	$156,779	Not available	Baseline needed	$20,995
35	University of Massachusetts GlobalDoctoral Degree	Aliso Viejo, CA	$156,172	Not available	Baseline needed	$32,654
36	Chatham UniversityDoctoral Degree	Pittsburgh, PA	$152,458	Not available	Baseline needed	$29,954
37	Gonzaga UniversityDoctoral Degree	Spokane, WA	$150,919	Not available	Baseline needed	$35,119
38	Grand Canyon UniversityDoctoral Degree	Phoenix, AZ	$150,205	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,472
39	University of Massachusetts-DartmouthDoctoral Degree	North Dartmouth, MA	$148,729	Not available	Baseline needed	$20,927
40	George Mason UniversityDoctoral Degree	Fairfax, VA	$148,171	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,915
41	Samuel Merritt UniversityDoctoral Degree	Oakland, CA	$147,055	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
42	Drexel UniversityDoctoral Degree	Philadelphia, PA	$146,209	Not available	Baseline needed	$38,509
43	Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied HealthDoctoral Degree	Omaha, NE	$146,020	Not available	Baseline needed	$21,863
44	Wilkes UniversityDoctoral Degree	Wilkes-Barre, PA	$145,853	Not available	Baseline needed	$27,743
45	South University-SavannahDoctoral Degree	Savannah, GA	$145,627	Not available	Baseline needed	$28,743
46	The University of AlabamaDoctoral Degree	Tuscaloosa, AL	$145,164	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,420
47	Quinnipiac UniversityDoctoral Degree	Hamden, CT	$144,224	Not available	Baseline needed	$40,675
48	Rocky Mountain University of Health ProfessionsDoctoral Degree	Provo, UT	$143,079	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
49	Texas Woman's UniversityDoctoral Degree	Denton, TX	$142,527	Not available	Baseline needed	$11,963
50	New Mexico State University-Main CampusDoctoral Degree	Las Cruces, NM	$141,422	Not available	Baseline needed	$8,889
51	University of Alabama at BirminghamDoctoral Degree	Birmingham, AL	$141,379	Not available	Baseline needed	$18,749
52	University of North Carolina at GreensboroDoctoral Degree	Greensboro, NC	$140,488	Not available	Baseline needed	$10,965
53	The University of Texas at AustinDoctoral Degree	Austin, TX	$140,262	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,857
54	University of WyomingDoctoral Degree	Laramie, WY	$138,911	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,599
55	Loyola University New OrleansDoctoral Degree	New Orleans, LA	$138,646	Not available	Baseline needed	$23,696
56	Barry UniversityDoctoral Degree	Miami, FL	$138,166	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,613
57	Maryville University of Saint LouisDoctoral Degree	Saint Louis, MO	$137,610	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,066
58	University of South AlabamaDoctoral Degree	Mobile, AL	$137,559	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,648
59	University of Michigan-FlintDoctoral Degree	Flint, MI	$137,511	Not available	Baseline needed	$7,007
60	University of Phoenix-ArizonaDoctoral Degree	Phoenix, AZ	$137,458	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,520
61	Chamberlain University-IllinoisDoctoral Degree	Addison, IL	$136,436	Not available	Baseline needed	$31,837
62	University of ArkansasDoctoral Degree	Fayetteville, AR	$136,259	Not available	Baseline needed	$18,209
63	Texas Tech University Health Sciences CenterDoctoral Degree	Lubbock, TX	$135,560	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
64	University of Washington-Seattle CampusDoctoral Degree	Seattle, WA	$135,401	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,091
65	University of North FloridaDoctoral Degree	Jacksonville, FL	$135,151	Not available	Baseline needed	$10,154
66	University of ArizonaDoctoral Degree	Tucson, AZ	$134,984	Not available	Baseline needed	$16,674
67	Capella UniversityDoctoral Degree	Minneapolis, MN	$134,483	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,956
68	University of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolDoctoral Degree	Worcester, MA	$134,104	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
69	University of Virginia-Main CampusDoctoral Degree	Charlottesville, VA	$133,752	Not available	Baseline needed	$21,565
70	University of UtahDoctoral Degree	Salt Lake City, UT	$133,019	Not available	Baseline needed	$16,200
71	Rush UniversityDoctoral Degree	Chicago, IL	$132,917	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
72	University of Alabama in HuntsvilleDoctoral Degree	Huntsville, AL	$132,900	Not available	Baseline needed	$18,796
73	Walden UniversityDoctoral Degree	Minneapolis, MN	$132,421	Not available	Baseline needed	$33,817
74	University of IowaDoctoral Degree	Iowa City, IA	$132,306	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,531
75	University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusDoctoral Degree	Denver, CO	$131,857	Not available	Baseline needed	$11,900
76	Purdue University GlobalDoctoral Degree	West Lafayette, IN	$131,220	Not available	Baseline needed	$7,770
77	Frontier Nursing UniversityDoctoral Degree	Versailles, KY	$130,663	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
78	University of Hawaii at ManoaDoctoral Degree	Honolulu, HI	$130,480	Not available	Baseline needed	$15,664
79	Emory UniversityDoctoral Degree	Atlanta, GA	$130,211	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,585
80	Arizona State University Campus ImmersionDoctoral Degree	Tempe, AZ	$130,060	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,967
81	University of Nevada-Las VegasDoctoral Degree	Las Vegas, NV	$129,750	Not available	Baseline needed	$10,359
82	The College of Saint ScholasticaDoctoral Degree	Duluth, MN	$129,745	Not available	Baseline needed	$27,846
83	Georgia State UniversityDoctoral Degree	Atlanta, GA	$129,645	Not available	Baseline needed	$15,931
84	Idaho State UniversityDoctoral Degree	Pocatello, ID	$129,599	Not available	Baseline needed	$12,193
85	University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireDoctoral Degree	Eau Claire, WI	$129,249	Not available	Baseline needed	$16,550
86	University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesDoctoral Degree	Minneapolis, MN	$128,612	Not available	Baseline needed	$16,778
87	Metropolitan State UniversityDoctoral Degree	Saint Paul, MN	$128,165	Not available	Baseline needed	$16,863
88	University of South FloridaDoctoral Degree	Tampa, FL	$127,778	Not available	Baseline needed	$9,812
89	Pennsylvania Western UniversityDoctoral Degree	California, PA	$127,594	Not available	Baseline needed	$18,256
90	St Catherine UniversityDoctoral Degree	Saint Paul, MN	$127,178	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,764
91	Montana State UniversityDoctoral Degree	Bozeman, MT	$126,894	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,499
92	Oklahoma City UniversityDoctoral Degree	Oklahoma City, OK	$126,859	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,857
93	Washington State UniversityDoctoral Degree	Pullman, WA	$126,766	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,971
94	University of Massachusetts-AmherstDoctoral Degree	Amherst, MA	$126,453	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,383
95	University of VermontDoctoral Degree	Burlington, VT	$126,439	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,343
96	Robert Morris UniversityDoctoral Degree	Moon Township, PA	$125,509	Not available	Baseline needed	$23,003
97	George Washington UniversityDoctoral Degree	Washington, DC	$125,247	Not available	Baseline needed	$36,586
98	University of MaryDoctoral Degree	Bismarck, ND	$124,741	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,770
99	Viterbo UniversityDoctoral Degree	La Crosse, WI	$124,304	Not available	Baseline needed	$21,260
100	East Carolina UniversityDoctoral Degree	Greenville, NC	$124,244	Not available	Baseline needed	$15,739

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.