2027 Best Value Critical Care Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region
[Critical Care Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/critical-care-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.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value critical care nursing schools.
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2027 Best Value Critical Care Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in critical care nursing, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Critical Care Nursing Schools
For return on investment in critical care nursing, no school beat University Of Mississippi Main Campus this year. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,772 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,600 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for critical care nursing graduates is $21,450. Soon after graduation, critical care nursing degree recipients from University Of Mississippi Main Campus generally make around $91,554. That is a strong return on a $21,450 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Memphis came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value critical care nursing schools. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,728, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Critical Care Nursing graduates carry a median of $27,168 in student loans. Soon after graduation, critical care nursing degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $48,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Augusta University earned it the #3 place for critical care nursing. Augusta University is a large public school located in the city of Augusta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,414, with out-of-state students paying around $24,734. Typical student debt for critical care nursing graduates is $22,956. Critical Care Nursing graduates of Augusta University earn a median of $56,168 early in their careers. Set against $22,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes East Carolina University one of the best values for critical care nursing. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. Students from in state pay about $7,361 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $23,638. Students borrow a median of $25,264 to complete the critical care nursing program here. Early-career critical care nursing graduates make about $51,931. Set against $25,264 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value critical care nursing schools. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Critical Care Nursing graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Critical Care Nursing graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $125,565 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
University Of Louisville landed the #6 spot for critical care nursing value this year. Set in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,136 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,482. Critical Care Nursing graduates carry a median of $23,205 in student loans. Soon after graduation, critical care nursing degree recipients from University Of Louisville generally make around $68,762. That is a strong return on a $23,205 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #7 spot for critical care nursing value this year. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. In-state tuition and fees average $23,118, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Typical student debt for critical care nursing graduates is $15,130. Critical Care Nursing graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $98,628 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,130 median debt. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
King College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value critical care nursing schools. Set in the city of Bristol, King College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $20,397 in tuition and fees. Critical Care Nursing graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Critical Care Nursing graduates of King College earn a median of $49,297 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. King College admits about 100% of applicants.
Barry University came in at #9 for value in critical care nursing this year. Barry University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Miami. Students from in state pay about $34,350 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the critical care nursing program here. Critical Care Nursing graduates of Barry University earn a median of $115,809 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Barry University admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of South Carolina Columbia earned the #10 position for value in critical care nursing this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,688 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. Critical Care Nursing graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Early-career critical care nursing graduates make about $103,138. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Southern Adventist University landed the #11 spot for critical care nursing value this year. Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Collegedale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,300. Students borrow a median of $26,596 to complete the critical care nursing program here. Early-career critical care nursing graduates make about $77,467. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Duke University placed #12 among the best values for critical care nursing. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,758. Critical Care Nursing graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Critical Care Nursing graduates of Duke University earn a median of $116,855 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Miami ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value critical care nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $62,616. Students borrow a median of $23,750 to complete the critical care nursing program here. Early-career critical care nursing graduates make about $57,234. That is a strong return on a $23,750 median debt. University Of Miami admits about 19% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
