ROI Major

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research at York Technical College

SC · Associate's Degree · CIP 51.38

Apply Now Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research degree from York Technical College earn a median salary of $70,793 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in SC, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $74,362. The degree typically pays for itself in 5.1 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 graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$58,254

Typical Career

$70,793

Top Performers

$82,300

Estimated break-even: 5.1 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$472

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,899. Most students can comfortably afford about a $472 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, Manufacturing, Retail Trade.

Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 27.0%
Manufacturing 16.0%
Retail Trade 8.7%

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

$74,362

Nominal: $70,793 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).

5.1 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 $58,331 $66,998 $75,818
5 Years After Graduation $58,254 $70,793 $82,300
10 Years After Graduation $59,582 $75,054 $93,187

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 $70,793 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)
= $70,793 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9520) = $74,362 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 from York Technical College in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, and Nursing Research shows a steady increase over time. One year after graduation, the median earnings stand at $66,998, rising to $70,793 by the fifth year and reaching $75,054 by the tenth year. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary equivalent is approximately $74,362.39, indicating that graduates can expect their earnings to maintain a competitive edge relative to national averages, despite the cost of living index in South Carolina being slightly lower than the national average.

Graduates primarily enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sector, which accounts for 45.3% of employment, with additional significant placements at 27.0% and 24.8% in similar fields. The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 5.1 years, suggesting a favorable return on investment. Given the strong employment rates in the health care sector and the increasing earnings potential, pursuing a career in nursing through York Technical College appears to offer a solid financial and career-oriented return.

Compare with Another School

See how the Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research degree at York Technical College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

Ready to apply?

Start your application for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research at York Technical College.

Apply to York Technical College

Explore More

Other Degrees at York Technical College

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.