WhatGradsMake
Certificate (1-2 years)+9% vs national median137 grads tracked

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Kirkwood Community College

Ranked 11th of 32 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$36,827
middle 50%: $25,697 – $49,741
Median · 5 years out
$65,511
middle 50%: $52,047 – $75,425
Median · 10 years out
$67,948
middle 50%: $51,851 – $81,175

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (certificate (1-2 years)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Kirkwood Community College's certificate (1-2 years) program in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing earn a median $36,827 one year after graduating, rising to $67,948 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 9% above the national median of $59,914 for this field, ranking 11th of 32 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
6.9 yrs
≈ $8,218 total interest

Same major at other universities

Arapahoe Community College
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Connors State College
$68,838 · 5 yrs out
Trinidad State College
$67,618 · 5 yrs out
Angelina College
$67,160 · 5 yrs out
Snow College
$67,042 · 5 yrs out
Rend Lake College
$65,897 · 5 yrs out
Lamar Community College
$64,138 · 5 yrs out
Des Moines Area Community College
$62,944 · 5 yrs out
Iowa Valley Community College District
$62,132 · 5 yrs out
Pikes Peak State College
$60,761 · 5 yrs out
Mountain Gateway Community College
$60,533 · 5 yrs out
Indian Hills Community College
$59,914 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Kirkwood Community College

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Certificate)
$85,664 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$80,729 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Certificate)
$76,958 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$67,675 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$67,570 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$67,528 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Associate)
$65,458 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Associate)
$65,458 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$65,062 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$65,062 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$64,578 · 5 yrs out

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