Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research at University of Hawaii at Hilo
HI · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 51.38
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research degree from University of Hawaii at Hilo earn a median salary of $106,631 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in HI, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $57,952. The degree typically pays for itself in 3 years.
Quick Insights
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
$82,210
Typical Career
$106,631
Top Performers
$125,321
Estimated break-even: 3 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$711
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $8,886. Most students can comfortably afford about a $711 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 2.7x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.4x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Hawaii buys what costs $1.84 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Retail Trade.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
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
$57,952
Nominal: $106,631 in Hawaii (COL 184.0% of national avg) · 45.7% lower 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 | $63,403 | $84,357 | $102,852 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $82,210 | $106,631 | $125,321 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $95,762 | $119,554 | $141,207 |
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 $106,631 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in HI, which has a cost-of-living index of 184.0% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $106,631 × (1.0 ÷ 1.8400)
= $57,952 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 (23.4%), Educational Services (22.2%), and Retail Trade (12.2%) sectors, reflecting the diverse opportunities available in the field. The estimated break-even point for those pursuing this path versus a high-school-only education is approximately three years, suggesting a favorable return on investment for students. Overall, while initial costs and living expenses in Hawaii may be higher, the long-term earnings potential and job market demand in nursing-related fields present a compelling case for pursuing a degree in this area.
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 University of Hawaii at Hilo 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.