Nursing Degree in Des Moines, IA — Salary & ROI 2026
Nursing degree analysis for Des Moines, IA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$63K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$75K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.3 yrs
in Des Moines
Cost of Living
92
index (100 = avg)
Nursing in Des Moines, IA Overview
Des Moines, Iowa (pop. 214,133) has 10 colleges offering Nursing programs. The local cost of living index of 92 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $975/month. Nursing has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Patient Care and Clinical Assessment skills. The adjusted starting salary in Des Moines is approximately $62,560.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$8,977/yr
Private Tuition
$38,388/yr
Room & Board
$8,658/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,739/yr
Unemployment
6.9%
Graduation Rate
56%
Nursing Salary in Des Moines (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Des Moines's cost of living index of 92 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nursing salary: $68,000 starting, $82,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Des Moines adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.
Nursing ROI Calculator for Des Moines
Estimate your return on investment for a Nursing degree using local Des Moines tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,977 | Private avg: $38,388
Des Moines avg aid: $9,739/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$70,540
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$30,360
vs HS diploma in Des Moines
ROI Payback Period
2.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Des Moines
$573,460
Lifetime earnings premium ($644,000) minus total education cost ($70,540)
Student Loan Payoff for Nursing in Des Moines
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Des Moines for Nursing
Drake University
private
$45,520/yr
$182,080 total
Grand View University
private
$31,256/yr
$125,024 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Des Moines Area Community College
$5,064/yr
Top Employers for Nursing in Des Moines
Des Moines offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Nursing graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Des Moines Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Nursing Job Titles
Nursing in Nearby Iowa Cities
Cedar Rapids, IA
$68K starting · COL 100
4 colleges
Davenport, IA
$54K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Sioux City, IA
$57K starting · COL 84
2 colleges
Iowa City, IA
$65K starting · COL 95.2
3 colleges
West Des Moines, IA
$66K starting · COL 97.5
3 colleges
Ankeny, IA
$65K starting · COL 95.8
3 colleges
Waterloo, IA
$56K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Ames, IA
$59K starting · COL 87
8 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Des Moines
Pharmacy
$46K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$46K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$46K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$46K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$46K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$46K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$46K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nursing Degree in Des Moines — 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 Des Moines.