ROI Major

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research at Jefferson College of Health Sciences

VA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 51.38

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research degree from Jefferson College of Health Sciences earn a median salary of $77,001 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in VA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $75,123. 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

$62,227

Typical Career

$77,001

Top Performers

$96,675

Estimated break-even: 4.5 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$513

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $6,417. Most students can comfortably afford about a $513 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 Virginia buys what costs $1.03 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

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

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 71.8%
Administrative & Support Services 6.0%
Educational Services 4.3%

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

$75,123

Nominal: $77,001 in Virginia (COL 102.5% of national avg) · 2.4% 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 $58,651 $69,853 $84,927
5 Years After Graduation $62,227 $77,001 $96,675
10 Years After Graduation $78,196 $95,568 $121,340

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 $77,001 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in VA, which has a cost-of-living index of 102.5% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $77,001 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0250) = $75,123 National Average equivalent.

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

Career Verdict

Graduates from Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, and Nursing Research can expect a positive earnings trajectory. Median earnings one year after graduation stand at $69,853, increasing to $77,001 after five years and reaching $95,568 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the median earnings five years post-graduation equate to approximately $75,122.93 nationally, reflecting a competitive salary relative to the cost of living in Virginia, which has a COL index of 1.025 compared to the national average.

The majority of graduates enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sector, accounting for 71.8% of employment, followed by Administrative & Support Services at 6.0% and Educational Services at 4.3%. The estimated break-even point versus a high-school-only path is approximately 4.5 years, indicating a favorable return on investment for those pursuing a nursing degree. Overall, the career prospects in these fields suggest a solid ROI, supported by strong industry demand and increasing salary potential over time.

Compare with Another School

See how the Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research degree at Jefferson College of Health Sciences 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.