PlainCollege

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

278
Schools
Doctoral
Credential Level
$158,621
National Avg Earnings

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing is tracked across 278 U.S. postsecondary institutions in the College Scorecard field-of-study file, which links CIP code classifications from IPEDS to Treasury earnings records. This profile covers the doctoral credential level specifically, because the Department of Education reports program-level outcomes separately for associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral awards. The CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) taxonomy lets analysts roll up specialties into broader families, which is why earnings medians across schools can be compared on a common basis.

Across all reporting institutions, the mean of school-level medians is $158,621, calculated from 100 schools with published earnings data. The earnings distribution stretches from $128,612 at the low end to $324,655 at the top, with a 25th-75th percentile band between $135,393 and $174,255 around a median of $144,240. The top-reporting institution in this program is Millikin University at $324,655. These numbers reflect earnings measured roughly a year after completion, using Social Security Administration tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants.

Variation across schools matters more than a single national figure. Completers counts reported per school indicate how many graduates’ earnings feed the median, which means small programs produce more volatile numbers. Median debt at the program level, when paired with earnings, yields a debt-to-earnings ratio that is the College Scorecard’s standard affordability signal — ratios under 1.0 indicate earnings exceed cumulative debt. Use the school-by-school table to spot institutions where Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates out-earn peers at comparable cost, and to surface gainful-employment patterns that only become visible at the CIP-code level.

Grand Canyon University accounts for 15.9% of all Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing doctoral credential graduates

That concentration — well above the 5% national median for largest-entity share — means Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. That school produced 295 graduates in the most recent cohort, anchoring a meaningful slice of national supply for this field. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing doctoral credential median earnings varies 2.5× across entities

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing doctoral credential median earnings ranges from $128,612 (lowest) to $324,655 (highest), a spread of $196,043. That spread reflects typical sectoral variation between selective research institutions and broader access institutions. Earnings are measured roughly one year after completion using IRS records linked to federal aid recipients (see https://www.irs.gov/) — not all completers are captured, but the school-level medians correlate strongly with longer-term earnings trajectories.

Source: College Scorecard Field of Study file; U.S. Treasury earnings linkage College Scorecard Field of Study file; U.S. Treasury earnings linkage

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing doctoral credential median debt varies 6.6× across entities

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing doctoral credential median debt ranges from $30,489 (lowest) to $201,589 (highest), a spread of $171,100. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme cost-of-attendance variation — students at the high end accumulate substantially more debt for the same credential, often without proportionally higher post-graduation earnings. Median debt counts only those students who borrowed federal loans — students who paid out-of-pocket or received institutional grants are excluded from the borrower median, which can flatter low-debt schools.

Source: College Scorecard Field of Study file; IPEDS financial aid data College Scorecard Field of Study file; IPEDS financial aid data

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.53 — near the typical range (US average ~1) — aligned with the typical 1:1 ratio that defines federal gainful-employment thresholds

debt-to-earnings ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: this ratio uses federal loan principal, not all education debt — private loans, parent PLUS loans not in the borrower’s name, and institutional debt are excluded Variation between sub-units within Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing is typically wider than the Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: College Scorecard Field of Study file College Scorecard Field of Study file

Earnings Distribution

Min
$128,612
25th %ile
$135,393
Median
$144,240
75th %ile
$174,255
Max
$324,655
$128,612 $324,655

Top Schools for This Program

School Name State Completers Median Earnings Median Debt
Millikin University IL — $324,655 $140,724
Central Connecticut State University CT — $240,887 —
Marshall University WV — $235,983 $187,960
Midwestern University-Downers Grove IL — $230,075 —
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University LA — $228,735 $183,709
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science MN 27 $224,804 $105,117
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science IL — $224,291 $179,695
Bryan College of Health Sciences NE 17 $222,935 $86,150
Missouri State University-Springfield MO — $218,334 $69,145
Mount Marty University SD 0 $207,824 $180,125
California State University-Fresno CA — $207,668 $37,030
Virginia Commonwealth University VA 61 $206,527 $102,262
University of San Francisco CA — $201,545 $95,800
Texas Christian University TX 1 $200,329 $82,000
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus OH 6 $199,296 $90,200
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston TX 68 $197,063 $61,500
Old Dominion University VA — $193,012 —
University of Southern Mississippi MS 42 $191,713 $143,995
Murray State University KY — $189,508 $92,445
DePaul University IL — $187,364 $98,328
Union University TN 32 $182,606 $152,499
California State University-Fullerton CA — $181,807 $40,710
University of San Diego CA 16 $178,950 $105,176
University of Pennsylvania PA 44 $176,358 $167,936
University of Miami FL 2 $174,255 $201,589
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans LA 1 $170,420 $134,633
Loma Linda University CA 42 $167,117 $85,387
Columbia University in the City of New York NY 4 $164,885 $175,663
Fairfield University CT — $163,093 $77,946
Duke University NC 6 $161,843 $105,069
University of Nevada-Reno NV 34 $161,545 —
Rutgers University-Camden NJ 5 $161,430 $67,500
Rutgers University-New Brunswick NJ 132 $161,430 $67,500
Rutgers University-Newark NJ 5 $161,430 $67,500
Yale University CT 21 $159,655 $66,900
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville IL 80 $157,682 $70,163
University at Buffalo NY 3 $156,779 $102,203
University of Massachusetts Global CA — $156,172 —
Chatham University PA — $152,458 $30,489
Gonzaga University WA — $150,919 $79,017
Grand Canyon University AZ 295 $150,205 $43,000
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth MA 6 $148,729 —
George Mason University VA 20 $148,171 $57,000
Samuel Merritt University CA — $147,055 $142,137
Drexel University PA 1 $146,209 —
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health NE 26 $146,020 —
Wilkes University PA 13 $145,853 $37,070
South University-Savannah GA — $145,627 $83,435
The University of Alabama AL 0 $145,164 $35,680
Otterbein University OH — $144,240 —
Quinnipiac University CT — $144,224 $76,500
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions UT 0 $143,079 $104,164
Texas Woman's University TX 31 $142,527 $64,790
New Mexico State University-Main Campus NM 0 $141,422 —
University of Alabama at Birmingham AL 7 $141,379 $48,950
University of North Carolina at Greensboro NC 8 $140,488 —
The University of Texas at Austin TX 29 $140,262 $44,117
University of Wyoming WY — $138,911 $58,273
Loyola University New Orleans LA — $138,646 $82,000
Northern Kentucky University KY — $138,264 $63,614
Barry University FL 5 $138,166 $82,685
Maryville University of Saint Louis MO — $137,610 $79,690
University of South Alabama AL — $137,559 $71,336
University of Michigan-Flint MI — $137,511 $71,750
University of Phoenix-Arizona AZ 15 $137,458 $66,759
University of Connecticut CT 6 $137,216 —
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus CT 0 $137,216 —
University of Connecticut-Avery Point CT 0 $137,216 —
University of Connecticut-Stamford CT 0 $137,216 —
University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus CT 0 $137,216 —
Chamberlain University-Illinois IL — $136,436 $39,000
University of Arkansas AR — $136,259 $55,608
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center TX 35 $135,560 —
University of Washington-Seattle Campus WA 108 $135,401 —
University of New Mexico-Main Campus NM 5 $135,393 —
The University of Texas at Arlington TX 6 $135,393 $46,590
University of North Florida FL — $135,151 $46,955
University of Arizona AZ 11 $134,984 $74,625
Capella University MN 178 $134,483 $62,201
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School MA 7 $134,104 $103,775
University of Virginia-Main Campus VA 20 $133,752 $56,522
The Catholic University of America DC 10 $133,420 —
University of Utah UT 9 $133,019 $54,967
Rush University IL 1 $132,917 $69,789
University of Alabama in Huntsville AL — $132,900 $34,361
University of Portland OR — $132,866 —
Walden University MN 173 $132,421 $94,982
University of Iowa IA 40 $132,306 $119,905
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus CO 6 $131,857 $65,649
Purdue University Global IN — $131,220 $89,231
Frontier Nursing University KY — $130,663 $72,973
University of Hawaii at Manoa HI 2 $130,480 $123,979
Emory University GA 9 $130,211 $70,165
Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ 70 $130,060 $89,135
University of Nevada-Las Vegas NV 30 $129,750 —
The College of Saint Scholastica MN — $129,745 $58,685
Georgia State University GA 17 $129,645 $46,125
Idaho State University ID 2 $129,599 $58,370
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire WI — $129,249 $52,094
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN 6 $128,612 $58,212

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates earn? ▼
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates earn $158,621 on average across 278 schools. Earnings range from $128,612 to $324,655 depending on the institution.
Which school pays the most for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing? ▼
Millikin University has the highest reported median earnings for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates at $324,655, based on College Scorecard data.
What credential do you get in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing? ▼
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing programs typically award a Doctoral credential. Earnings vary by school and credential level.

Top Schools for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

Closest schools offering this program — compare earnings side by side

Millikin University
IL
$324,655 median
Central Connecticut State University
CT
$240,887 median
Marshall University
WV
$235,983 median
Midwestern University-Downers Grove
IL
$230,075 median
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University
LA
$228,735 median
Compare Millikin University vs Central Connecticut State University →

About This Data

Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Median earnings represent graduates who received federal financial aid, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal student aid applicants. Completers count and debt figures reflect program-level data reported through IPEDS. Data is updated annually.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Earnings data sourced from IRS records via the U.S. Treasury–Department of Education matching protocol used by the College Scorecard.