Nursing Degree in San Antonio, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Nursing degree analysis for San Antonio, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$82K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$98K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.2 yrs
in San Antonio
Cost of Living
120
index (100 = avg)
Nursing in San Antonio, TX Overview
San Antonio is one of Texas's top college towns, with 58 institutions and a student population of 95,539. Public tuition averages $10,740/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Nursing has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Patient Care and Clinical Assessment skills. The adjusted starting salary in San Antonio is approximately $81,600.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
58
Public Tuition
$10,740/yr
Private Tuition
$40,722/yr
Room & Board
$10,768/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,745/yr
Unemployment
4.8%
Graduation Rate
66%
Nursing Salary in San Antonio (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for San Antonio's cost of living index of 120 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nursing salary: $68,000 starting, $82,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.San Antonio adjustment factor: 1.20x based on the local cost of living index.
Nursing ROI Calculator for San Antonio
Estimate your return on investment for a Nursing degree using local San Antonio tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,740 | Private avg: $40,722
San Antonio avg aid: $13,745/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,032
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$39,600
vs HS diploma in San Antonio
ROI Payback Period
2.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in San Antonio
$753,968
Lifetime earnings premium ($840,000) minus total education cost ($86,032)
Student Loan Payoff for Nursing in San Antonio
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in San Antonio for Nursing
University of Texas at San Antonio
public
$10,740/yr
$42,960 total
Trinity University
private
$47,908/yr
$191,632 total
St. Mary's University
private
$33,536/yr
$134,144 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Alamo Colleges
$2,604/yr
Top Employers for Nursing in San Antonio
San Antonio offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Nursing graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key San Antonio Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Nursing Job Titles
Nursing in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$78K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
Dallas, TX
$71K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$73K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$69K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$63K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$64K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$56K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Plano, TX
$58K starting · COL 85
9 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in San Antonio
Pharmacy
$60K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$60K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$60K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$60K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$60K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$60K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$60K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$60K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nursing Degree in San Antonio — 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 San Antonio.