Nursing Degree in Racine, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Nursing degree analysis for Racine, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$58K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$70K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.3 yrs
in Racine
Cost of Living
85.8
index (100 = avg)
Nursing in Racine, WI Overview
While Racine has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Nursing students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,562/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 Racine is approximately $58,344.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,600/yr
Private Tuition
$34,000/yr
Room & Board
$12,562/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,051/yr
Unemployment
2.1%
Graduation Rate
72%
Nursing Salary in Racine (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Racine's cost of living index of 85.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nursing salary: $68,000 starting, $82,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Racine adjustment factor: 0.86x based on the local cost of living index.
Nursing ROI Calculator for Racine
Estimate your return on investment for a Nursing degree using local Racine tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,600 | Private avg: $34,000
Racine avg aid: $8,051/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,648
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$28,314
vs HS diploma in Racine
ROI Payback Period
3.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Racine
$507,952
Lifetime earnings premium ($600,600) minus total education cost ($92,648)
Student Loan Payoff for Nursing in Racine
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Racine for Nursing
Racine State University
public
$11,121/yr
$44,484 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Racine Community College
$5,143/yr
Top Employers for Nursing in Racine
Racine offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Nursing graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Racine 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
Madison, WI
$61K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Green Bay, WI
$58K starting · COL 86
6 colleges
Kenosha, WI
$72K starting · COL 106
8 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 Racine
Pharmacy
$43K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$43K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$43K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$43K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$43K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$43K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$43K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$43K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nursing Degree in Racine — 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 Racine.