Nursing Degree in Madison, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Nursing degree analysis for Madison, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$73K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.1 yrs
in Madison
Cost of Living
89
index (100 = avg)
Nursing in Madison, WI Overview
Madison, Wisconsin (pop. 269,840) has 11 colleges offering Nursing programs. The local cost of living index of 89 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $902/month. Nursing has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Patient Care and Clinical Assessment skills. The adjusted starting salary in Madison is approximately $60,520.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$10,725/yr
Private Tuition
$33,350/yr
Room & Board
$11,942/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,815/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
73%
Nursing Salary in Madison (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Madison's cost of living index of 89 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nursing salary: $68,000 starting, $82,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Madison adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
Nursing ROI Calculator for Madison
Estimate your return on investment for a Nursing degree using local Madison tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,725 | Private avg: $33,350
Madison avg aid: $15,815/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,668
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$29,370
vs HS diploma in Madison
ROI Payback Period
3.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Madison
$532,332
Lifetime earnings premium ($623,000) minus total education cost ($90,668)
Student Loan Payoff for Nursing in Madison
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Madison for Nursing
University of Wisconsin-Madison
public
$10,725/yr
$42,900 total
Edgewood College
private
$33,350/yr
$133,400 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Madison Area Technical College
$4,632/yr
Top Employers for Nursing in Madison
Madison offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Nursing graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Madison Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Nursing Job Titles
Nursing in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Milwaukee, WI
$64K starting · COL 94
33 colleges
Green Bay, WI
$58K starting · COL 86
6 colleges
Kenosha, WI
$72K starting · COL 106
8 colleges
Racine, WI
$58K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Appleton, WI
$54K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Waukesha, WI
$62K starting · COL 90.5
3 colleges
Eau Claire, WI
$58K starting · COL 86
2 colleges
Oshkosh, WI
$73K starting · COL 107
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Madison
Pharmacy
$45K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$45K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$45K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$45K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$45K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$45K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$45K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$45K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nursing Degree in Madison — 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 Madison.