2027 Best Value Clinical Nurse Specialist Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Clinical Nurse Specialist](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/clinical-nurse-specialist/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for clinical nurse specialist students.
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2027 Best Value Clinical Nurse Specialist Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the clinical nurse specialist degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Clinical Nurse Specialist Schools
For return on investment in clinical nurse specialist, no school beat Purdue University Northwest this year. Purdue University Northwest is a large public school located in the suburb of Hammond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,357, with out-of-state students paying around $15,504. Students borrow a median of $24,552 to complete the clinical nurse specialist program here. Early-career clinical nurse specialist graduates make about $93,180. That is a strong return on a $24,552 median debt. Purdue University Northwest admits about 72% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Saginaw Valley State University one of the best values for clinical nurse specialist. Set in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,930 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,450 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for clinical nurse specialist graduates is $28,000. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse specialist degree recipients from Saginaw Valley State University generally make around $50,012. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saginaw Valley State University admits about 72% of applicants.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value clinical nurse specialist schools. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,408 to complete the clinical nurse specialist program here. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse specialist degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $89,364. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Southern Indiana earned it the #4 place for clinical nurse specialist. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,066, compared with $22,907 for out-of-state students. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates carry a median of $25,089 in student loans. Early-career clinical nurse specialist graduates make about $91,255. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern Indiana admits about 96% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned it the #5 place for clinical nurse specialist. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career clinical nurse specialist graduates make about $86,743. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Detroit Mercy earned the #6 position for value in clinical nurse specialist this year. Set in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,946. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse specialist degree recipients from University Of Detroit Mercy generally make around $95,228. Set against $29,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Detroit Mercy admits about 75% of applicants.
Ursuline College came in at #7 for value in clinical nurse specialist this year. Set in the suburb of Pepper Pike, Ursuline College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,990. Students borrow a median of $35,000 to complete the clinical nurse specialist program here. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates of Ursuline College earn a median of $80,267 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Alverno College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value clinical nurse specialist schools. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Alverno College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,086. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates carry a median of $34,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse specialist degree recipients from Alverno College generally make around $55,790. That is a strong return on a $34,000 median debt. Alverno College admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Rio Grande landed the #9 spot for clinical nurse specialist value this year. Set in the rural area of Rio Grande, University Of Rio Grande is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,560. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates carry a median of $39,677 in student loans. Early-career clinical nurse specialist graduates make about $46,611. That is a strong return on a $39,677 median debt.
Elmhurst College landed the #10 spot for clinical nurse specialist value this year. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,955. Typical student debt for clinical nurse specialist graduates is $25,000. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of $51,232 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Edgewood College placed #11 among the best values for clinical nurse specialist. Set in the city of Madison, Edgewood College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,860. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the clinical nurse specialist program here. Early-career clinical nurse specialist graduates make about $56,578. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #12 spot for clinical nurse specialist value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career clinical nurse specialist graduates make about $111,912. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
