Nursing Degree in Chicago, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Nursing degree analysis for Chicago, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$74K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$89K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.7 yrs
in Chicago
Cost of Living
109
index (100 = avg)
Nursing in Chicago, IL Overview
Chicago is one of Illinois's top college towns, with 98 institutions and a student population of 177,322. Public tuition averages $14,816/year here — near the national average for public universities. Nursing has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Patient Care and Clinical Assessment skills. The adjusted starting salary in Chicago is approximately $74,120.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
98
Public Tuition
$14,816/yr
Private Tuition
$62,666/yr
Room & Board
$9,117/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,009/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
63%
Nursing Salary in Chicago (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Chicago's cost of living index of 109 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nursing salary: $68,000 starting, $82,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Chicago adjustment factor: 1.09x based on the local cost of living index.
Nursing ROI Calculator for Chicago
Estimate your return on investment for a Nursing degree using local Chicago tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,816 | Private avg: $62,666
Chicago avg aid: $16,009/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,732
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$35,970
vs HS diploma in Chicago
ROI Payback Period
2.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Chicago
$667,268
Lifetime earnings premium ($763,000) minus total education cost ($95,732)
Student Loan Payoff for Nursing in Chicago
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Chicago for Nursing
University of Chicago
private
$62,940/yr
$251,760 total
Northwestern University
private
$62,391/yr
$249,564 total
University of Illinois at Chicago
public
$14,816/yr
$59,264 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
City Colleges of Chicago
$3,918/yr
Top Employers for Nursing in Chicago
Chicago offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Nursing graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Chicago Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Nursing Job Titles
Nursing in Nearby Illinois Cities
Aurora, IL
$63K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Joliet, IL
$73K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$69K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$61K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Elgin, IL
$54K starting · COL 79
13 colleges
Springfield, IL
$63K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Peoria, IL
$71K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$61K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Chicago
Pharmacy
$55K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$55K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$55K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$55K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$55K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$55K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$55K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$55K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nursing Degree in Chicago — 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 Chicago.