Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research at Lamar State College - Orange
TX · Associate's Degree · CIP 51.38
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research degree from Lamar State College - Orange earn a median salary of $81,214 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in TX, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $88,180. The degree typically pays for itself in 4.5 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
$63,776
Typical Career
$81,214
Top Performers
$96,276
Estimated break-even: 4.5 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$541
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $6,768. Most students can comfortably afford about a $541 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 2.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.0x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Texas buys what costs $0.92 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Manufacturing.
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
$88,180
Nominal: $81,214 in Texas (COL 92.1% of national avg) · 8.6% 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).
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 | $54,572 | $67,680 | $82,850 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $63,776 | $81,214 | $96,276 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $70,273 | $90,167 | $108,111 |
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 $81,214 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in TX, which has a cost-of-living index of 92.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $81,214 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9210)
= $88,180 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries that graduates enter are predominantly within Health Care & Social Assistance, with 81.2% of graduates finding employment in this sector. The estimated break-even point for those pursuing a nursing career versus a high-school-only path is approximately 4.5 years, indicating a relatively quick return on educational investment. Given the strong employment prospects and earnings potential in the health care field, pursuing a nursing career at Lamar State College - Orange presents a compelling opportunity for students.
Compare with Another School
See how the Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research degree at Lamar State College - Orange stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Ready to apply?
Start your application for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research at Lamar State College - Orange.
Explore More
Other Degrees at Lamar State College - Orange
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.