Nursing Degree in Santa Rosa, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Nursing degree analysis for Santa Rosa, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$86K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$104K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
1.9 yrs
in Santa Rosa
Cost of Living
127
index (100 = avg)
Nursing in Santa Rosa, CA Overview
Santa Rosa, California (pop. 178,127) has 12 colleges offering Nursing programs. The local cost of living index of 127 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,113/month. Nursing has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Patient Care and Clinical Assessment skills. The adjusted starting salary in Santa Rosa is approximately $86,360.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$7,724/yr
Private Tuition
$56,404/yr
Room & Board
$12,528/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,165/yr
Unemployment
6.6%
Graduation Rate
47%
Nursing Salary in Santa Rosa (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Santa Rosa's cost of living index of 127 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nursing salary: $68,000 starting, $82,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Santa Rosa adjustment factor: 1.27x based on the local cost of living index.
Nursing ROI Calculator for Santa Rosa
Estimate your return on investment for a Nursing degree using local Santa Rosa tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,724 | Private avg: $56,404
Santa Rosa avg aid: $13,165/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$81,008
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$41,910
vs HS diploma in Santa Rosa
ROI Payback Period
1.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Santa Rosa
$807,992
Lifetime earnings premium ($889,000) minus total education cost ($81,008)
Student Loan Payoff for Nursing in Santa Rosa
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Santa Rosa for Nursing
Sonoma State University
public
$7,724/yr
$30,896 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Santa Rosa Junior College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Nursing in Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Nursing graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa
Pharmacy
$64K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$64K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$64K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$64K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$64K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$64K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nursing Degree in Santa Rosa — 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 Santa Rosa.