by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/health-care-professions/bioethics-medical-ethics/nursing-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 53 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Saint Xavier University earned the #1 spot for value among value schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,945. Typical student debt for value graduates is $25,735. Early-career value graduates make about $51,753. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Xavier University admits about 84% of applicants.
Wayne State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,689. Value graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $55,469 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the best values for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,092. Students borrow a median of $23,917 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $72,892. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits about 98% of applicants.
Purdue University Global came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,101, compared with $14,412 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $36,778 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Purdue University Global earn a median of $92,468 early in their careers. Set against $36,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global came in at #6 for value in value this year. Set in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,648. Value graduates carry a median of $32,807 in student loans. Value graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earn a median of $82,364 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $32,807 median debt.
College Of Mount St Joseph landed the #7 spot for value value this year. Located in the suburb of Cincinnati, College Of Mount St Joseph is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,150. Typical student debt for value graduates is $28,273. Early-career value graduates make about $69,964. Set against $28,273 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Herzing University Madison landed the #9 spot for value value this year. Set in the city of Madison, Herzing University Madison is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,450. Typical student debt for value graduates is $30,328. Value graduates of Herzing University Madison earn a median of $102,429 early in their careers. Set against $30,328 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Spring Arbor University earned the #10 position for value in value this year. Located in the rural area of Spring Arbor, Spring Arbor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,014. Typical student debt for value graduates is $28,268. Early-career value graduates make about $53,080. Set against $28,268 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Spring Arbor University admits about 52% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #11 spot for value value this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Value graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $58,659. Set against $23,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois came in at #12 for value in value this year. Set in the suburb of Addison, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $21,536 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $39,146. Early-career value graduates make about $101,006. Set against $39,146 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Case Western Reserve University earned the #13 position for value in value this year. Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,608. Typical student debt for value graduates is $25,106. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $74,459. Set against $25,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 36%.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 53 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.