Nursing Degree in San Bernardino, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Nursing degree analysis for San Bernardino, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$71K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$85K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.4 yrs
in San Bernardino
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Nursing in San Bernardino, CA Overview
San Bernardino is one of California's top college towns, with 22 institutions and a student population of 21,939. Public tuition averages $7,316/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 Bernardino is approximately $70,720.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
22
Public Tuition
$7,316/yr
Private Tuition
$48,781/yr
Room & Board
$13,152/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,226/yr
Unemployment
6.1%
Graduation Rate
63%
Nursing Salary in San Bernardino (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for San Bernardino's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nursing salary: $68,000 starting, $82,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.San Bernardino adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Nursing ROI Calculator for San Bernardino
Estimate your return on investment for a Nursing degree using local San Bernardino tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,316 | Private avg: $48,781
San Bernardino avg aid: $15,226/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$81,872
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$34,320
vs HS diploma in San Bernardino
ROI Payback Period
2.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in San Bernardino
$646,128
Lifetime earnings premium ($728,000) minus total education cost ($81,872)
Student Loan Payoff for Nursing in San Bernardino
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in San Bernardino for Nursing
California State University, San Bernardino
public
$7,316/yr
$29,264 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
San Bernardino Valley College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Nursing in San Bernardino
San Bernardino offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Nursing graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key San Bernardino Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Nursing Job Titles
Nursing in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$96K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$95K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$88K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$78K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$80K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$76K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$79K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$90K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in San Bernardino
Pharmacy
$52K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$52K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$52K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$52K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$52K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$52K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nursing Degree in San Bernardino — 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 Bernardino.