ROI Major

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research at Eastern Maine Community College

ME · Associate's Degree · CIP 51.38

Apply Now Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research degree from Eastern Maine Community College earn a median salary of $77,430 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in ME, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $68,040. The degree typically pays for itself in 4.5 years.

Quick Insights

Solid Investment

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

$63,190

Typical Career

$77,430

Top Performers

$91,143

Estimated break-even: 4.5 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$516

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $6,453. Most students can comfortably afford about a $516 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 2.0x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.0x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Maine buys what costs $1.14 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Retail Trade, Manufacturing.

Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 30.8%
Retail Trade 11.3%
Manufacturing 8.3%

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

$68,040

Nominal: $77,430 in Maine (COL 113.8% of national avg) · 12.1% 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).

4.5 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

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 $57,455 $70,664 $83,124
5 Years After Graduation $63,190 $77,430 $91,143
10 Years After Graduation $66,646 $79,787 $95,372

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 $77,430 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in ME, which has a cost-of-living index of 113.8% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $77,430 × (1.0 ÷ 1.1380) = $68,040 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

Graduates from Eastern Maine Community College's nursing programs can expect a solid earnings trajectory, with median earnings of $70,664 one year after graduation, increasing to $77,430 after five years, and reaching $79,787 after ten years. However, it's important to consider the purchasing power, particularly in Maine, where the cost of living index is higher than the national average. The purchasing-power-adjusted salary for five years post-graduation is approximately $68,040.42, indicating that while earnings grow, the relative value may be impacted by local economic conditions.

The top industries for graduates primarily include Health Care & Social Assistance, which accounts for 30.8% of employment, followed by a significant 19.8% in the same sector, and 15.4% in Construction. This concentration in health-related fields suggests a strong demand for nursing professionals, which can enhance job security and career prospects. With an estimated break-even point of approximately 4.5 years compared to a high school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing a nursing career appears favorable, particularly given the steady growth in earnings over time.

Compare with Another School

See how the Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research degree at Eastern Maine Community College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

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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.