Bachelor's-3% vs national median3,226 grads tracked
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Northern Illinois University
Ranked 162nd of 294 bachelor's programs in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$68,926
middle 50%: $56,265 – $81,750
Median · 5 years out
$81,506
middle 50%: $65,235 – $97,545
Median · 10 years out
$91,302
middle 50%: $67,476 – $115,708
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Nursing graduates command a high first-year median of $69k. Salaries reach $91k by the tenth year.
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
4.8 yrs
≈ $5,041 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
$82,285 · 5 yrs out
Berry College
$82,185 · 5 yrs out
Columbus State University
$81,722 · 5 yrs out
Adams State University
$81,671 · 5 yrs out
Liberty University
$81,600 · 5 yrs out
University of Arizona (The)
$81,555 · 5 yrs out
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
$81,330 · 5 yrs out
University of Virginia
$81,258 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Southwestern State University
$81,200 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College at Brockport
$80,786 · 5 yrs out
University of Utah
$80,723 · 5 yrs out
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
$80,540 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Northern Illinois University
Education (Doctorate)
$119,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,599 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$111,551 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$111,291 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$109,443 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$102,156 · 5 yrs out
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,392 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$97,297 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,041 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$93,400 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$92,787 · 5 yrs out
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