Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research at University of South Carolina - Lancaster
SC · Associate's Degree · CIP 51.38
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research degree from University of South Carolina - Lancaster earn a median salary of $68,878 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in SC, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $72,351. The degree typically pays for itself in 5.2 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
$56,754
Typical Career
$68,878
Top Performers
$81,866
Estimated break-even: 5.2 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$459
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,740. Most students can comfortably afford about a $459 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.8x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.9x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in South Carolina buys what costs $0.95 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Retail Trade, Educational Services.
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
$72,351
Nominal: $68,878 in South Carolina (COL 95.2% of national avg) · 5% 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 | $58,131 | $68,424 | $77,587 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $56,754 | $68,878 | $81,866 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $63,698 | $75,120 | $90,747 |
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 $68,878 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in SC, which has a cost-of-living index of 95.2% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $68,878 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9520)
= $72,351 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
Graduates primarily enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sector, which employs 26.8% of them, followed by Retail Trade at 9.8% and Educational Services at 8.5%. The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 5.2 years, suggesting a favorable return on investment for pursuing a nursing degree. Overall, the data indicates that pursuing a career in nursing offers a solid financial outlook and access to stable employment in a growing industry.
Compare with Another School
See how the Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research degree at University of South Carolina - Lancaster 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.