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

Nursing certificate holders start with a median salary of $37k. Mid-career earnings reach $66k at year five and $68k at year ten.

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

Related fields of study

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
Compare universities
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
Compare universities
Alternative and Complementary Medical Support Services
Compare universities
Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems
Compare universities
Chiropractic
Compare universities
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
Compare universities