Nursing Degree in Mesa, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Nursing degree analysis for Mesa, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$75K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$90K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.8 yrs
in Mesa
Cost of Living
110
index (100 = avg)
Nursing in Mesa, AZ Overview
Mesa is one of Arizona's top college towns, with 31 institutions and a student population of 36,638. Public tuition averages $12,467/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 Mesa is approximately $74,800.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
31
Public Tuition
$12,467/yr
Private Tuition
$36,100/yr
Room & Board
$13,027/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,459/yr
Unemployment
3.5%
Graduation Rate
54%
Nursing Salary in Mesa (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Mesa's cost of living index of 110 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nursing salary: $68,000 starting, $82,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Mesa adjustment factor: 1.10x based on the local cost of living index.
Nursing ROI Calculator for Mesa
Estimate your return on investment for a Nursing degree using local Mesa tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,467 | Private avg: $36,100
Mesa avg aid: $15,459/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$101,976
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$36,300
vs HS diploma in Mesa
ROI Payback Period
2.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Mesa
$668,024
Lifetime earnings premium ($770,000) minus total education cost ($101,976)
Student Loan Payoff for Nursing in Mesa
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Mesa for Nursing
Arizona State University Polytechnic
public
$12,467/yr
$49,868 total
A.T. Still University
private
$42,500/yr
$170,000 total
Benedictine University Mesa
private
$29,700/yr
$118,800 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Mesa Community College
$2,580/yr
Top Employers for Nursing in Mesa
Mesa offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Nursing graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Mesa Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Nursing Job Titles
Nursing in Nearby Arizona Cities
Phoenix, AZ
$103K starting · COL 152
72 colleges
Tucson, AZ
$79K starting · COL 116
24 colleges
Chandler, AZ
$84K starting · COL 124
22 colleges
Gilbert, AZ
$81K starting · COL 119
26 colleges
Glendale, AZ
$71K starting · COL 105
16 colleges
Scottsdale, AZ
$86K starting · COL 126
16 colleges
Peoria, AZ
$71K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Tempe, AZ
$77K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Mesa
Pharmacy
$55K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$55K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$55K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$55K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$55K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$55K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$55K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$55K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nursing Degree in Mesa — 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 Mesa.