Nursing Degree in Fort Lauderdale, FL — Salary & ROI 2026
Nursing degree analysis for Fort Lauderdale, FL. 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
3 yrs
in Fort Lauderdale
Cost of Living
92
index (100 = avg)
Nursing in Fort Lauderdale, FL Overview
While Fort Lauderdale has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Nursing students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $11,777/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 Fort Lauderdale is approximately $62,560.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$10,805/yr
Private Tuition
$33,650/yr
Room & Board
$11,777/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,111/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
47%
Nursing Salary in Fort Lauderdale (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fort Lauderdale'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.Fort Lauderdale adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.
Nursing ROI Calculator for Fort Lauderdale
Estimate your return on investment for a Nursing degree using local Fort Lauderdale tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,805 | Private avg: $33,650
Fort Lauderdale avg aid: $7,111/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,328
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$30,360
vs HS diploma in Fort Lauderdale
ROI Payback Period
3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fort Lauderdale
$553,672
Lifetime earnings premium ($644,000) minus total education cost ($90,328)
Student Loan Payoff for Nursing in Fort Lauderdale
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fort Lauderdale for Nursing
Nova Southeastern University
private
$33,650/yr
$134,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Broward College
$3,120/yr
Top Employers for Nursing in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Nursing graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fort Lauderdale Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Nursing Job Titles
Nursing in Nearby Florida Cities
Jacksonville, FL
$80K starting · COL 117
35 colleges
Miami, FL
$67K starting · COL 98
12 colleges
Tampa, FL
$69K starting · COL 101
26 colleges
Orlando, FL
$65K starting · COL 96
16 colleges
St. Petersburg, FL
$66K starting · COL 97
22 colleges
Hialeah, FL
$53K starting · COL 78
22 colleges
Port St. Lucie, FL
$67K starting · COL 98.5
8 colleges
Tallahassee, FL
$61K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Fort Lauderdale
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 Fort Lauderdale — 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 Fort Lauderdale.