2026 Best Value Clinical Nurse Leader Master’s Degree Schools
[Clinical Nurse Leader](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/clinical-nurse-leader/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong clinical nurse leader education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 44 schools to find the best return on investment for clinical nurse leader students.
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2026 Best Value Clinical Nurse Leader Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in clinical nurse leader, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Clinical Nurse Leader Schools
Cuny Hunter College earned the #1 spot for value among clinical nurse leader schools in the United States. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Students borrow a median of $16,944 to complete the clinical nurse leader program here. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse leader degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $51,372. That is a strong return on a $16,944 median debt. The acceptance rate is 54%.
California State University Stanislaus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical nurse leader schools. California State University Stanislaus is a large public school located in the suburb of Turlock. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,242, with out-of-state students paying around $20,842. Students borrow a median of $23,450 to complete the clinical nurse leader program here. Early-career clinical nurse leader graduates make about $46,807. That is a strong return on a $23,450 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in clinical nurse leader will find it at University Of Southern Maine, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,090, while out-of-state students pay about $29,940. Students borrow a median of $29,242 to complete the clinical nurse leader program here. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse leader degree recipients from University Of Southern Maine generally make around $47,003. That is a strong return on a $29,242 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nevada Reno is a great value for students pursuing a degree in clinical nurse leader, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Reno, University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,578 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates carry a median of $20,813 in student loans. Early-career clinical nurse leader graduates make about $50,691. Set against $20,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saginaw Valley State University earned it the #5 place for clinical nurse leader. Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Center. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,930, with out-of-state students paying around $30,450. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the clinical nurse leader program here. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse leader degree recipients from Saginaw Valley State University generally make around $50,012. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
South Dakota State University placed #6 among the best values for clinical nurse leader. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $51,260 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Capella University earned the #7 position for value in clinical nurse leader this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates carry a median of $27,826 in student loans. Early-career clinical nurse leader graduates make about $106,264. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Mount St Joseph landed the #8 spot for clinical nurse leader 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. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse leader degree recipients from College Of Mount St Joseph generally make around $69,964. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Connecticut State University came in at #9 for value in clinical nurse leader this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,442 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,942 for out-of-state students. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates carry a median of $25,837 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse leader degree recipients from Southern Connecticut State University generally make around $113,436. That is a strong return on a $25,837 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Elmhurst College placed #10 among the best values for clinical nurse leader. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,955 in tuition and fees. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse leader degree recipients from Elmhurst College generally make around $51,232. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Elmhurst College admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of Iowa came in at #11 for value in clinical nurse leader this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates carry a median of $24,811 in student loans. Early-career clinical nurse leader graduates make about $96,368. That is a strong return on a $24,811 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Sentara College Of Health Sciences ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical nurse leader schools. Sentara College Of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chesapeake. In-state tuition and fees average $2,840. Typical student debt for clinical nurse leader graduates is $29,250. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse leader degree recipients from Sentara College Of Health Sciences generally make around $76,356. That is a strong return on a $29,250 median debt.
La Salle University earned the #13 position for value in clinical nurse leader this year. La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $37,800 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for clinical nurse leader graduates is $27,000. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates of La Salle University earn a median of $137,009 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Pacific Lutheran University placed #14 among the best values for clinical nurse leader. Located in the suburb of Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $50,916 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the clinical nurse leader program here. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates of Pacific Lutheran University earn a median of $89,189 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Rowan University earned the #15 position for value in clinical nurse leader this year. Located in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,574, while out-of-state students pay about $26,932. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the clinical nurse leader program here. Early-career clinical nurse leader graduates make about $119,453. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Otterbein University landed the #16 spot for clinical nurse leader value this year. Set in the suburb of Westerville, Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,548. Typical student debt for clinical nurse leader graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse leader degree recipients from Otterbein University generally make around $45,871. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus landed the #17 spot for clinical nurse leader value this year. Located in the town of Durham, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $19,202, while out-of-state students pay about $39,852. Typical student debt for clinical nurse leader graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse leader degree recipients from University Of New Hampshire Main Campus generally make around $96,636. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The University Of Texas Medical Branch landed the #18 spot for clinical nurse leader value this year. Set in the city of Galveston, The University Of Texas Medical Branch is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,402, while out-of-state students pay about $28,011. Typical student debt for clinical nurse leader graduates is $20,500. Early-career clinical nurse leader graduates make about $116,723. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Morningside College landed the #19 spot for clinical nurse leader value this year. Set in the city of Sioux City, Morningside College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,519. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the clinical nurse leader program here. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse leader degree recipients from Morningside College generally make around $99,854. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Morningside College admits about 71% of applicants.
Edgewood College placed #20 among the best values for clinical nurse leader. Edgewood College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Madison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,860. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the clinical nurse leader program here. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse leader degree recipients from Edgewood College generally make around $56,578. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Edgewood College admits about 76% of applicants.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois placed #21 among the best values for clinical nurse leader. Set in the suburb of Addison, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,536. Typical student debt for clinical nurse leader graduates is $39,146. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates of Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois earn a median of $104,394 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $39,146 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Charles R Drew University Of Medicine And Science came in at #22 for value in clinical nurse leader this year. Set in the suburb of Los Angeles, Charles R Drew University Of Medicine And Science is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $23,000. Students borrow a median of $27,250 to complete the clinical nurse leader program here. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates of Charles R Drew University Of Medicine And Science earn a median of $127,454 early in their careers. Set against $27,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Charles R Drew University Of Medicine And Science admits about 39% of applicants.
Queens University Of Charlotte earned the #23 position for value in clinical nurse leader this year. Queens University Of Charlotte is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charlotte. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,846. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates carry a median of $31,757 in student loans. Early-career clinical nurse leader graduates make about $93,594. That is a strong return on a $31,757 median debt. Queens University Of Charlotte admits about 62% of applicants.
Curry College came in at #24 for value in clinical nurse leader this year. Located in the suburb of Milton, Curry College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,570. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the clinical nurse leader program here. Early-career clinical nurse leader graduates make about $113,490. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Curry College admits about 88% of applicants.
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary landed the #25 spot for clinical nurse leader value this year. Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,500. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Clinical Nurse Leader graduates of Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary earn a median of $118,958 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Rest of the Top 28 Best Value Clinical Nurse Leader Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s clinical nurse leader value ranking:
Other Clinical Nurse Leader Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Clinical Nurse Leader rankings across degree levels:
View All Clinical Nurse Leader Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 44 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
