Nursing Degree in Bend, OR — Salary & ROI 2026
Nursing degree analysis for Bend, OR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$73K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$88K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.2 yrs
in Bend
Cost of Living
107
index (100 = avg)
Nursing in Bend, OR Overview
While Bend has a smaller college scene with 2 institutions, Nursing students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $16,767/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Nursing has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Patient Care and Clinical Assessment skills. The adjusted starting salary in Bend is approximately $72,760.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
2
Public Tuition
$11,580/yr
Private Tuition
$54,584/yr
Room & Board
$16,767/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,503/yr
Unemployment
7%
Graduation Rate
49%
Nursing Salary in Bend (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Bend's cost of living index of 107 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nursing salary: $68,000 starting, $82,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Bend adjustment factor: 1.07x based on the local cost of living index.
Nursing ROI Calculator for Bend
Estimate your return on investment for a Nursing degree using local Bend tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,580 | Private avg: $54,584
Bend avg aid: $7,503/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$113,388
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$35,310
vs HS diploma in Bend
ROI Payback Period
3.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Bend
$635,612
Lifetime earnings premium ($749,000) minus total education cost ($113,388)
Student Loan Payoff for Nursing in Bend
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Bend for Nursing
Oregon State University-Cascades
public
$11,580/yr
$46,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Central Oregon Community College
$4,536/yr
Top Employers for Nursing in Bend
Bend offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Nursing graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Bend Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Nursing Job Titles
Nursing in Nearby Oregon Cities
Portland, OR
$76K starting · COL 112
24 colleges
Eugene, OR
$88K starting · COL 130
14 colleges
Salem, OR
$82K starting · COL 120
14 colleges
Gresham, OR
$75K starting · COL 110.2
5 colleges
Hillsboro, OR
$79K starting · COL 115.5
5 colleges
Beaverton, OR
$72K starting · COL 105.9
4 colleges
Medford, OR
$75K starting · COL 111
4 colleges
Springfield, OR
$82K starting · COL 120.3
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Bend
Pharmacy
$54K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$54K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$54K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$54K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$54K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$54K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nursing Degree in Bend — 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 Bend.