Nursing Degree in Wilmington, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Nursing degree analysis for Wilmington, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$65K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$78K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.2 yrs
in Wilmington
Cost of Living
95
index (100 = avg)
Nursing in Wilmington, NC Overview
While Wilmington has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Nursing students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $9,779/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 Wilmington is approximately $64,600.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$7,287/yr
Private Tuition
$34,393/yr
Room & Board
$9,779/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,831/yr
Unemployment
6.8%
Graduation Rate
48%
Nursing Salary in Wilmington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Wilmington's cost of living index of 95 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Nursing salary: $68,000 starting, $82,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Wilmington adjustment factor: 0.95x based on the local cost of living index.
Nursing ROI Calculator for Wilmington
Estimate your return on investment for a Nursing degree using local Wilmington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,287 | Private avg: $34,393
Wilmington avg aid: $13,831/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$68,264
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$31,350
vs HS diploma in Wilmington
ROI Payback Period
2.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Wilmington
$596,736
Lifetime earnings premium ($665,000) minus total education cost ($68,264)
Student Loan Payoff for Nursing in Wilmington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Wilmington for Nursing
University of North Carolina Wilmington
public
$7,287/yr
$29,148 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cape Fear Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Nursing in Wilmington
Wilmington offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Nursing graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Wilmington Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Nursing Job Titles
Nursing in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$61K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Raleigh, NC
$56K starting · COL 83
21 colleges
Greensboro, NC
$62K starting · COL 91
17 colleges
Durham, NC
$74K starting · COL 109
25 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$72K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Fayetteville, NC
$61K starting · COL 90
15 colleges
Cary, NC
$74K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
High Point, NC
$57K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Wilmington
Pharmacy
$48K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$48K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$48K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$48K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$48K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$48K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$48K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$48K starting · 3 yr ROI
Nursing Degree in Wilmington — 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 Wilmington.