Nursing Degree in Renton, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Nursing degree analysis for Renton, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$83K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$100K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.7 yrs
in Renton
Cost of Living
122.5
index (100 = avg)
Nursing in Renton, WA Overview
While Renton has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Nursing students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $15,923/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 Renton is approximately $83,300.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,923/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,424/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
64%
Nursing Salary in Renton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Renton's cost of living index of 122.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nursing salary: $68,000 starting, $82,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Renton adjustment factor: 1.23x based on the local cost of living index.
Nursing ROI Calculator for Renton
Estimate your return on investment for a Nursing degree using local Renton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Renton avg aid: $15,424/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$110,892
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$40,425
vs HS diploma in Renton
ROI Payback Period
2.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Renton
$746,608
Lifetime earnings premium ($857,500) minus total education cost ($110,892)
Student Loan Payoff for Nursing in Renton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Renton for Nursing
Renton State University
public
$11,303/yr
$45,212 total
University of Renton
public
$13,258/yr
$53,032 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Renton Community College
$5,805/yr
Top Employers for Nursing in Renton
Renton offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Nursing graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Renton Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Nursing Job Titles
Nursing in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$82K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$82K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$77K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$74K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$121K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$79K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$80K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$84K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Renton
Pharmacy
$61K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$61K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$61K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$61K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$61K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$61K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$61K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$61K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nursing Degree in Renton — 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 Renton.