ROI Major

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research at Grambling State University

LA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 51.38

Apply Now Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research degree from Grambling State University earn a median salary of $78,570 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in LA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $85,125. 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

$62,477

Typical Career

$78,570

Top Performers

$95,698

Estimated break-even: 4.5 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$524

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $6,548. Most students can comfortably afford about a $524 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 Louisiana buys what costs $0.92 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Public Administration.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 25.6%
Educational Services 19.8%
Public Administration 7.8%

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

$85,125

Nominal: $78,570 in Louisiana (COL 92.3% of national avg) · 8.3% higher 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 $51,913 $69,266 $82,017
5 Years After Graduation $62,477 $78,570 $95,698
10 Years After Graduation $71,115 $94,389 $118,115

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 $78,570 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in LA, which has a cost-of-living index of 92.3% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $78,570 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9230) = $85,125 National Average equivalent.

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

Career Verdict

Graduates from Grambling State University pursuing Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, or Nursing Research can expect a solid earnings trajectory. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $69,266, increasing to $78,570 after five years and reaching $94,389 by the ten-year mark. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary aligns with a national equivalent of approximately $85,124.59, indicating that graduates maintain competitive earning potential relative to national standards despite the cost of living index in Louisiana being slightly lower than the national average.

The primary industries for graduates include Health Care & Social Assistance (25.6%), Educational Services (19.8%), and Public Administration (7.8%), suggesting diverse employment opportunities. The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 4.5 years, indicating a favorable return on investment for pursuing a nursing degree. Overall, the combination of strong earnings potential and varied career paths supports a positive outlook for students considering these fields at Grambling State University.

Compare with Another School

See how the Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research degree at Grambling State University 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.