Nursing Degree in Lafayette, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Nursing degree analysis for Lafayette, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$71K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$85K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.5 yrs
in Lafayette
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Nursing in Lafayette, LA Overview
While Lafayette has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Nursing students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $11,349/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 Lafayette is approximately $70,720.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$10,374/yr
Private Tuition
$38,796/yr
Room & Board
$11,349/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,367/yr
Unemployment
4.8%
Graduation Rate
66%
Nursing Salary in Lafayette (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lafayette's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nursing salary: $68,000 starting, $82,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Lafayette adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Nursing ROI Calculator for Lafayette
Estimate your return on investment for a Nursing degree using local Lafayette tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,374 | Private avg: $38,796
Lafayette avg aid: $7,367/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,892
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$34,320
vs HS diploma in Lafayette
ROI Payback Period
2.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lafayette
$641,108
Lifetime earnings premium ($728,000) minus total education cost ($86,892)
Student Loan Payoff for Nursing in Lafayette
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lafayette for Nursing
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
public
$10,374/yr
$41,496 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
South Louisiana Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Nursing in Lafayette
Lafayette offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Nursing graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lafayette Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Nursing Job Titles
Nursing in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$61K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Baton Rouge, LA
$56K starting · COL 82
16 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$67K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$61K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lake Charles, LA
$54K starting · COL 80
6 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$60K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$63K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Lafayette
Pharmacy
$52K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$52K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$52K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$52K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$52K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$52K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nursing Degree in Lafayette — 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 Lafayette.