Nursing Degree in Jersey City, NJ — Salary & ROI 2026
Nursing degree analysis for Jersey City, NJ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$86K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$104K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.3 yrs
in Jersey City
Cost of Living
127
index (100 = avg)
Nursing in Jersey City, NJ Overview
Jersey City is one of New Jersey's top college towns, with 23 institutions and a student population of 26,694. Public tuition averages $12,750/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 Jersey City is approximately $86,360.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
23
Public Tuition
$12,750/yr
Private Tuition
$40,360/yr
Room & Board
$21,714/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,349/yr
Unemployment
3.5%
Graduation Rate
50%
Nursing Salary in Jersey City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Jersey City's cost of living index of 127 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nursing salary: $68,000 starting, $82,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Jersey City adjustment factor: 1.27x based on the local cost of living index.
Nursing ROI Calculator for Jersey City
Estimate your return on investment for a Nursing degree using local Jersey City tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,750 | Private avg: $40,360
Jersey City avg aid: $10,349/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$137,856
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$41,910
vs HS diploma in Jersey City
ROI Payback Period
3.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Jersey City
$751,144
Lifetime earnings premium ($889,000) minus total education cost ($137,856)
Student Loan Payoff for Nursing in Jersey City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Jersey City for Nursing
Saint Peter's University
private
$40,360/yr
$161,440 total
New Jersey City University
public
$12,750/yr
$51,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Hudson County Community College
$5,040/yr
Top Employers for Nursing in Jersey City
Jersey City offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Nursing graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Jersey City Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Nursing Job Titles
Nursing in Nearby New Jersey Cities
Newark, NJ
$92K starting · COL 135
14 colleges
Paterson, NJ
$88K starting · COL 129
5 colleges
Elizabeth, NJ
$79K starting · COL 115.5
6 colleges
Edison, NJ
$80K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Lakewood, NJ
$88K starting · COL 128.8
5 colleges
Woodbridge, NJ
$77K starting · COL 112.5
4 colleges
Toms River, NJ
$80K starting · COL 117.7
4 colleges
Trenton, NJ
$91K starting · COL 134
8 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Jersey City
Pharmacy
$64K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$64K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$64K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$64K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$64K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$64K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nursing Degree in Jersey City — 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 Jersey City.