2027 Best Value Adult Health Nurse/Nursing Master’s Degree Schools

[Adult Health Nurse/Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/adult-health-nurse-nursing/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 86 schools to find the best return on investment for adult health nurse/nursing students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Adult Health Nurse/Nursing Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the adult health nurse/nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Adult Health Nurse/Nursing Schools
Cuny Hunter College earned the #1 spot for value among adult health nurse/nursing schools in the United States. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,382 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Typical student debt for adult health nurse/nursing graduates is $16,944. Soon after graduation, adult health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $139,841. That is a strong return on a $16,944 median debt. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
Florida International University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in adult health nurse/nursing, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $18,895 in student loans. Early-career adult health nurse/nursing graduates make about $52,517. Set against $18,895 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis one of the best values for adult health nurse/nursing. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $28,408 in student loans. Early-career adult health nurse/nursing graduates make about $110,592. That is a strong return on a $28,408 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Southern Indiana one of the best values for adult health nurse/nursing. Located in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,066 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,907. Students borrow a median of $25,089 to complete the adult health nurse/nursing program here. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates of University Of Southern Indiana earn a median of $47,216 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
A rank of #5 makes Purdue University Global one of the best values for adult health nurse/nursing. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $10,101 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,412. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $38,512 in student loans. Early-career adult health nurse/nursing graduates make about $107,024. That is a strong return on a $38,512 median debt.
Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome landed the #6 spot for adult health nurse/nursing value this year. Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Utica. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,625, while out-of-state students pay about $21,215. Typical student debt for adult health nurse/nursing graduates is $21,500. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates of Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome earn a median of $56,541 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny Institute Of Technology At Utica Rome admits about 81% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for adult health nurse/nursing value this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,455 to complete the adult health nurse/nursing program here. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Mount Carmel College Of Nursing placed #8 among the best values for adult health nurse/nursing. Located in the city of Columbus, Mount Carmel College Of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $27,600 in tuition and fees. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career adult health nurse/nursing graduates make about $106,506. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Northern Kentucky University landed the #9 spot for adult health nurse/nursing value this year. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,088 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,912. Typical student debt for adult health nurse/nursing graduates is $31,000. Soon after graduation, adult health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Northern Kentucky University generally make around $101,465. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Kentucky University admits about 68% of applicants.
Worcester State University placed #10 among the best values for adult health nurse/nursing. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $11,786 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,866. Typical student debt for adult health nurse/nursing graduates is $26,849. Soon after graduation, adult health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Worcester State University generally make around $75,249. Set against $26,849 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Xavier University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value adult health nurse/nursing schools. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,945. Typical student debt for adult health nurse/nursing graduates is $27,188. Early-career adult health nurse/nursing graduates make about $51,753. That is a strong return on a $27,188 median debt. Saint Xavier University admits about 84% of applicants.
Youngstown State University earned the #12 position for value in adult health nurse/nursing this year. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. In-state tuition and fees average $9,926, while out-of-state students pay about $10,286. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the adult health nurse/nursing program here. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $49,025 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University earned the #13 position for value in adult health nurse/nursing this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the adult health nurse/nursing program here. Early-career adult health nurse/nursing graduates make about $109,840. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus landed the #14 spot for adult health nurse/nursing value this year. Located in the suburb of Teaneck, Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $37,010 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for adult health nurse/nursing graduates is $26,500. Early-career adult health nurse/nursing graduates make about $127,638. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
Western Carolina University landed the #15 spot for adult health nurse/nursing value this year. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,630, while out-of-state students pay about $8,630. Students borrow a median of $23,163 to complete the adult health nurse/nursing program here. Early-career adult health nurse/nursing graduates make about $44,926. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Wilmington University came in at #16 for value in adult health nurse/nursing this year. Wilmington University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of New Castle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,630. Typical student debt for adult health nurse/nursing graduates is $23,333. Soon after graduation, adult health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Wilmington University generally make around $57,142. Set against $23,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
National University College Bayamon earned the #17 position for value in adult health nurse/nursing this year. National University College Bayamon is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Bayamon. In-state tuition and fees average $12,723, compared with $13,886 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,418 to complete the adult health nurse/nursing program here. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates of National University College Bayamon earn a median of $38,330 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Middle Georgia State University came in at #18 for value in adult health nurse/nursing this year. Set in the city of Macon, Middle Georgia State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,038, while out-of-state students pay about $16,390. Students borrow a median of $23,825 to complete the adult health nurse/nursing program here. Soon after graduation, adult health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Middle Georgia State University generally make around $116,881. That is a strong return on a $23,825 median debt. Middle Georgia State University admits about 100% of applicants.
East Carolina University earned the #19 position for value in adult health nurse/nursing this year. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,361, with out-of-state students paying around $23,638. Students borrow a median of $25,264 to complete the adult health nurse/nursing program here. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $51,931 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern Maine came in at #20 for value in adult health nurse/nursing this year. University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Portland. Students from in state pay about $12,090 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,940. Typical student debt for adult health nurse/nursing graduates is $29,242. Early-career adult health nurse/nursing graduates make about $47,003. Set against $29,242 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value adult health nurse/nursing schools. Set in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,046, compared with $22,870 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for adult health nurse/nursing graduates is $27,000. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates of Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $47,730 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arizona ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value adult health nurse/nursing schools. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the adult health nurse/nursing program here. Early-career adult health nurse/nursing graduates make about $50,834. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell landed the #23 spot for adult health nurse/nursing value this year. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lowell. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,966, with out-of-state students paying around $36,264. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, adult health nurse/nursing degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $107,250. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Lowell admits about 83% of applicants.
Lewis University landed the #24 spot for adult health nurse/nursing value this year. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $39,200. Typical student debt for adult health nurse/nursing graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, adult health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Lewis University generally make around $103,365. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lewis University admits about 71% of applicants.
Stony Brook University earned the #25 position for value in adult health nurse/nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,931, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for adult health nurse/nursing graduates is $23,000. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $126,792 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Adult Health Nurse/Nursing Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s adult health nurse/nursing value ranking:
Other Adult Health Nurse/Nursing Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Adult Health Nurse/Nursing rankings across degree levels:
View All Adult Health Nurse/Nursing Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 86 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 86 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.