Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research at West Virginia University - Parkersburg
WV · Associate's Degree · CIP 51.38
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research degree from West Virginia University - Parkersburg earn a median salary of $64,899 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in WV, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $72,757. The degree typically pays for itself in 6.5 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
$53,490
Typical Career
$64,899
Top Performers
$77,046
Estimated break-even: 6.5 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$433
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,408. Most students can comfortably afford about a $433 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.7x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.8x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in West Virginia buys what costs $0.89 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Public Administration, 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
$72,757
Nominal: $64,899 in West Virginia (COL 89.2% of national avg) · 12.1% 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 | $48,605 | $57,341 | $65,310 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $53,490 | $64,899 | $77,046 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $59,162 | $74,236 | $90,372 |
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 $64,899 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in WV, which has a cost-of-living index of 89.2% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $64,899 × (1.0 ÷ 0.8920)
= $72,757 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for graduates predominantly include Health Care & Social Assistance, which accounts for 28.0% of employment, followed by Public Administration at 23.6% and another segment of Health Care & Social Assistance at 22.4%. The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 6.5 years, suggesting a favorable return on investment for those pursuing these nursing careers. Overall, the data indicates a solid career path with substantial opportunities and financial benefits in the healthcare sector.
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See how the Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research degree at West Virginia University - Parkersburg 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.