Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research at Hawaii Community College

Graduates from the Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, and Nursing Research programs at Hawaii Community College can expect a promising earnings trajectory. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $80,065, which increases to $102,090 after five years and reaches $119,554 after ten years. However, when considering the cost of living in Hawaii, which has a COL index of 1.84 compared to the national average of 1.0, the purchasing-power-adjusted salary five years post-graduation is approximately $55,483. This indicates that while nominal earnings are high, the purchasing power may be significantly impacted by the local cost of living.

The top industries for graduates predominantly include Health Care & Social Assistance, with 22.9% entering this field immediately after graduation, followed by 21.2% five years later, and 15.1% in Accommodation & Food Services. The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 3.3 years, suggesting a favorable return on investment for those pursuing a nursing career. Overall, the data indicates that a degree from this program offers a solid financial outlook, particularly in the health care sector, despite the higher living costs in Hawaii.