Nursing Degree in Washington, DC — Salary & ROI 2026
Nursing degree analysis for Washington, DC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$99K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$120K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.8 yrs
in Washington
Cost of Living
146
index (100 = avg)
Nursing in Washington, DC Overview
Washington is one of District of Columbia's top college towns, with 42 institutions and a student population of 55,233. Public tuition averages $12,276/year here — near the national average for public universities. Nursing has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Patient Care and Clinical Assessment skills. The adjusted starting salary in Washington is approximately $99,280.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
42
Public Tuition
$12,276/yr
Private Tuition
$51,262/yr
Room & Board
$22,009/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,537/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
60%
Nursing Salary in Washington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Washington's cost of living index of 146 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nursing salary: $68,000 starting, $82,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Washington adjustment factor: 1.46x based on the local cost of living index.
Nursing ROI Calculator for Washington
Estimate your return on investment for a Nursing degree using local Washington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,276 | Private avg: $51,262
Washington avg aid: $8,537/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$137,140
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$48,180
vs HS diploma in Washington
ROI Payback Period
2.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Washington
$884,860
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,022,000) minus total education cost ($137,140)
Student Loan Payoff for Nursing in Washington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Washington for Nursing
Georgetown University
private
$62,052/yr
$248,208 total
George Washington University
private
$60,770/yr
$243,080 total
Howard University
private
$30,964/yr
$123,856 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
University of the District of Columbia Community College
$3,120/yr
Top Employers for Nursing in Washington
Washington offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Nursing graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Washington Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Nursing Job Titles
Other Healthcare Majors in Washington
Pharmacy
$73K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$73K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$73K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$73K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$73K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$73K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$73K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$73K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nursing Degree in Washington — 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 Washington.