ROI Major

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research at Utah Tech University

UT · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 51.38

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research degree from Utah Tech University earn a median salary of $87,152 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in UT, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $84,205. The degree typically pays for itself in 4.2 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

$66,448

Typical Career

$87,152

Top Performers

$110,762

Estimated break-even: 4.2 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$581

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $7,263. Most students can comfortably afford about a $581 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 2.2x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.1x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Utah buys what costs $1.04 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 24.3%
Educational Services 19.7%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 11.2%

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

$84,205

Nominal: $87,152 in Utah (COL 103.5% of national avg) · 3.4% 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).

4.2 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 $55,123 $68,224 $83,321
5 Years After Graduation $66,448 $87,152 $110,762
10 Years After Graduation $81,671 $96,791 $120,396

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 $87,152 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in UT, which has a cost-of-living index of 103.5% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $87,152 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0350) = $84,205 National Average equivalent.

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

Career Verdict

Graduates from Utah Tech University's nursing programs can expect a solid earnings trajectory, with median earnings of $68,224 one year after graduation, rising to $87,152 after five years, and reaching $96,791 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary aligns closely with the national average at $84,204.83, indicating that graduates can maintain a competitive standard of living despite the cost of living index in Utah being slightly higher than the national average.

The primary industries for graduates include Health Care & Social Assistance (24.3%), Educational Services (19.7%), and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (11.2%). Given the estimated break-even point of approximately 4.2 years compared to a high-school-only path, pursuing a degree in nursing appears to offer a favorable return on investment. The combination of strong earnings potential and diverse employment opportunities supports a positive career outlook for students in these fields.

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 Utah Tech 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.

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