Nursing Degree in Springfield, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Nursing degree analysis for Springfield, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$66K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.3 yrs
in Springfield
Cost of Living
80
index (100 = avg)
Nursing in Springfield, MO Overview
While Springfield has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Nursing students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $13,383/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 Springfield is approximately $54,400.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$8,210/yr
Private Tuition
$33,330/yr
Room & Board
$13,383/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,942/yr
Unemployment
3.2%
Graduation Rate
52%
Nursing Salary in Springfield (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Springfield's cost of living index of 80 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nursing salary: $68,000 starting, $82,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Springfield adjustment factor: 0.80x based on the local cost of living index.
Nursing ROI Calculator for Springfield
Estimate your return on investment for a Nursing degree using local Springfield tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,210 | Private avg: $33,330
Springfield avg aid: $13,942/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,372
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$26,400
vs HS diploma in Springfield
ROI Payback Period
3.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Springfield
$473,628
Lifetime earnings premium ($560,000) minus total education cost ($86,372)
Student Loan Payoff for Nursing in Springfield
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Springfield for Nursing
Missouri State University
public
$8,210/yr
$32,840 total
Drury University
private
$33,330/yr
$133,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Ozarks Technical Community College
$3,900/yr
Top Employers for Nursing in Springfield
Springfield offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Nursing graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Springfield Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Nursing Job Titles
Nursing in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$64K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
St. Louis, MO
$66K starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Columbia, MO
$57K starting · COL 84
10 colleges
Independence, MO
$58K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$65K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$59K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$61K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$57K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Springfield
Pharmacy
$40K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$40K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$40K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$40K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$40K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$40K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$40K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$40K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nursing Degree in Springfield — 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 Springfield.