ROI Major

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research at Middle Georgia State University

GA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 51.38

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research degree from Middle Georgia State University earn a median salary of $75,346 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in GA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $83,255. The degree typically pays for itself in 4.9 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 bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$59,604

Typical Career

$75,346

Top Performers

$96,894

Estimated break-even: 4.9 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$502

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $6,279. Most students can comfortably afford about a $502 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.9x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.0x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Georgia buys what costs $0.91 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

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

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 23.6%
Educational Services 20.5%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 8.5%

Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$83,255

Nominal: $75,346 in Georgia (COL 90.5% of national avg) · 10.5% 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).

4.9 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 $56,365 $65,797 $78,376
5 Years After Graduation $59,604 $75,346 $96,894
10 Years After Graduation $73,897 $103,300 $134,517

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 $75,346 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in GA, which has a cost-of-living index of 90.5% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $75,346 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9050) = $83,255 National Average equivalent.

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

Career Verdict

The earnings trajectory for graduates in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, and Nursing Research from Middle Georgia State University shows a significant increase over time. One year after graduation, median earnings are reported at $65,797, which rises to $75,346 after five years, and further escalates to $103,300 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary equates to approximately $83,255.25 nationally, indicating that graduates can expect a competitive salary relative to their peers across the country, even considering the cost of living in Georgia.

Graduates primarily enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sector (23.6%), followed by Educational Services (20.5%) and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (8.5%). The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 4.9 years, suggesting a favorable return on investment. Overall, pursuing a career in nursing or related fields at Middle Georgia State University appears to offer solid financial benefits and career stability in a growing industry.

AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.

Compare with Another School

See how the Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research degree at Middle Georgia State University stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

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.

Explore More