2027 Best Value Adult Health Nurse/Nursing Schools in North Carolina
[Adult Health Nurse/Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/adult-health-nurse-nursing/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for adult health nurse/nursing students.
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2027 Best Value Adult Health Nurse/Nursing Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in adult health nurse/nursing, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Adult Health Nurse/Nursing Schools
Leading the list is Western Carolina University, our #1 best value for adult health nurse/nursing in North Carolina. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,630 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,630 for out-of-state students. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $23,163 in student loans. Soon after graduation, adult health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Western Carolina University generally make around $44,926. That is a strong return on a $23,163 median debt. Western Carolina University admits about 82% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes East Carolina University one of the best values for adult health nurse/nursing. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,361 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Typical student debt for adult health nurse/nursing graduates is $25,264. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $51,931 early in their careers. Set against $25,264 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Methodist University earned it the #3 place for adult health nurse/nursing. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Methodist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,250. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates of Methodist University earn a median of $70,746 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
A rank of #4 makes Duke University one of the best values for adult health nurse/nursing. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,758. Typical student debt for adult health nurse/nursing graduates is $29,000. Early-career adult health nurse/nursing graduates make about $116,855. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
