Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research at Chemeketa Community College
OR · Associate's Degree · CIP 51.38
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research degree from Chemeketa Community College earn a median salary of $94,352 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in OR, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $82,548. The degree typically pays for itself in 3.2 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$76,816
Typical Career
$94,352
Top Performers
$108,876
Estimated break-even: 3.2 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$629
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $7,863. Most students can comfortably afford about a $629 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 2.4x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.2x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Oregon buys what costs $1.14 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Public Administration, Educational Services.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$82,548
Nominal: $94,352 in Oregon (COL 114.3% of national avg) · 12.5% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $68,560 | $84,163 | $95,839 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $76,816 | $94,352 | $108,876 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $80,572 | $105,919 | $124,902 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $94,352 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in OR, which has a cost-of-living index of 114.3% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $94,352 × (1.0 ÷ 1.1430)
= $82,548 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries for graduates are concentrated in Health Care & Social Assistance, with 50.8%, 25.6%, and 22.7% of graduates entering this sector in various capacities. The estimated break-even point for pursuing a nursing career versus a high school-only path is approximately 3.2 years, suggesting a favorable return on investment for students. Overall, the combination of strong earnings potential and a clear career pathway in a growing industry supports a positive ROI for those considering Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, or Nursing Research at Chemeketa Community College.
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Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.