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

Graduates from Onondaga Community College's nursing programs can expect a promising earnings trajectory. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $64,509, which increases to $78,885 after five years and reaches $91,000 a decade post-graduation. However, when considering the cost of living in New York, the purchasing-power-adjusted five-year salary equivalent is approximately $59,761.36, indicating that while nominal earnings are strong, the real purchasing power may be somewhat diminished due to the higher cost of living in the state.

The primary industries that graduates enter include Health Care & Social Assistance, which accounts for 28.9% of placements, followed by Health Care & Social Assistance at 21.5% and Public Administration at 21.5%. Given the estimated break-even point of approximately 4.8 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing a nursing career appears favorable. This suggests that students can expect a solid career trajectory and financial benefits in the long term, particularly within the health care sector.