Nursing Degree in Baton Rouge, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Nursing degree analysis for Baton Rouge, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$56K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$67K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.5 yrs
in Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
82
index (100 = avg)
Nursing in Baton Rouge, LA Overview
Baton Rouge, Louisiana (pop. 227,470) has 16 colleges offering Nursing programs. The local cost of living index of 82 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $871/month. Nursing has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Patient Care and Clinical Assessment skills. The adjusted starting salary in Baton Rouge is approximately $55,760.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$9,889/yr
Private Tuition
$38,908/yr
Room & Board
$13,546/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,166/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
68%
Nursing Salary in Baton Rouge (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Baton Rouge's cost of living index of 82 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nursing salary: $68,000 starting, $82,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Baton Rouge adjustment factor: 0.82x based on the local cost of living index.
Nursing ROI Calculator for Baton Rouge
Estimate your return on investment for a Nursing degree using local Baton Rouge tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,889 | Private avg: $38,908
Baton Rouge avg aid: $9,166/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,740
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$27,060
vs HS diploma in Baton Rouge
ROI Payback Period
3.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Baton Rouge
$480,260
Lifetime earnings premium ($574,000) minus total education cost ($93,740)
Student Loan Payoff for Nursing in Baton Rouge
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Baton Rouge for Nursing
Louisiana State University
public
$11,962/yr
$47,848 total
Southern University
public
$7,816/yr
$31,264 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Baton Rouge Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Nursing in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Nursing graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Baton Rouge Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Nursing Job Titles
Nursing in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$61K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$67K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$61K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lafayette, LA
$71K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Lake Charles, LA
$54K starting · COL 80
6 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$60K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$63K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Baton Rouge
Pharmacy
$41K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$41K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$41K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$41K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$41K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$41K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$41K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$41K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nursing Degree in Baton Rouge — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Nursing ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Baton Rouge.