Nursing Degree in Bloomington, IN — Salary & ROI 2026
Nursing degree analysis for Bloomington, IN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$56K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$68K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.5 yrs
in Bloomington
Cost of Living
83
index (100 = avg)
Nursing in Bloomington, IN Overview
While Bloomington has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Nursing students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,831/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 Bloomington is approximately $56,440.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$10,948/yr
Private Tuition
$35,439/yr
Room & Board
$12,831/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,996/yr
Unemployment
5.2%
Graduation Rate
64%
Nursing Salary in Bloomington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Bloomington's cost of living index of 83 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nursing salary: $68,000 starting, $82,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Bloomington adjustment factor: 0.83x based on the local cost of living index.
Nursing ROI Calculator for Bloomington
Estimate your return on investment for a Nursing degree using local Bloomington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,948 | Private avg: $35,439
Bloomington avg aid: $13,996/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,116
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$27,390
vs HS diploma in Bloomington
ROI Payback Period
3.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Bloomington
$485,884
Lifetime earnings premium ($581,000) minus total education cost ($95,116)
Student Loan Payoff for Nursing in Bloomington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Bloomington for Nursing
Indiana University Bloomington
public
$10,948/yr
$43,792 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington
$4,540/yr
Top Employers for Nursing in Bloomington
Bloomington offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Nursing graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Bloomington Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Nursing Job Titles
Nursing in Nearby Indiana Cities
Indianapolis, IN
$64K starting · COL 94
25 colleges
Fort Wayne, IN
$70K starting · COL 103
24 colleges
Evansville, IN
$58K starting · COL 86
10 colleges
South Bend, IN
$61K starting · COL 89
9 colleges
Carmel, IN
$72K starting · COL 105.2
4 colleges
Fishers, IN
$68K starting · COL 100.5
4 colleges
Hammond, IN
$63K starting · COL 93.1
4 colleges
Lafayette, IN
$58K starting · COL 84.8
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Bloomington
Pharmacy
$42K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$42K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$42K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$42K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$42K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$42K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$42K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$42K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nursing Degree in Bloomington — 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 Bloomington.