2026 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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for critical care nursing students.
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2026 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
Leading the list is University Of Mississippi Main Campus, our #1 best value for critical care nursing in the Southeast Region. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,772, compared with $28,600 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for critical care nursing graduates is $21,450. Early-career critical care nursing graduates make about $91,554. That is a strong return on a $21,450 median debt. University Of Mississippi Main Campus admits about 97% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in critical care nursing will find it at University Of Memphis, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,728, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. Critical Care Nursing graduates carry a median of $27,168 in student loans. Critical Care Nursing graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $48,890 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,168 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Augusta University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value critical care nursing schools. Set in the city of Augusta, Augusta University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,414, with out-of-state students paying around $24,734. Students borrow a median of $22,956 to complete the critical care nursing program here. 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 Vanderbilt University one of the best values for critical care nursing. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Typical student debt for critical care nursing graduates is $13,975. Early-career critical care nursing graduates make about $125,565. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Louisville earned it the #5 place for critical care nursing. Located in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,136, compared with $29,482 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,205 to complete the critical care nursing program here. Soon after graduation, critical care nursing degree recipients from University Of Louisville generally make around $58,534. Set against $23,205 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #6 position for value in critical care nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $61,591. Critical Care Nursing graduates carry a median of $15,130 in student loans. Soon after graduation, critical care nursing degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $98,628. Set against $15,130 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
Barry University came in at #7 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,350. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the critical care nursing program here. Soon after graduation, critical care nursing degree recipients from Barry University generally make around $115,809. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Barry University admits about 77% of applicants.
King College earned the #8 position for value in critical care nursing this year. King College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bristol. Students from in state pay about $20,397 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the critical care nursing program here. Early-career critical care nursing graduates make about $49,297. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Southern Adventist University landed the #9 spot for critical care nursing value this year. Set in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $27,300. Students borrow a median of $26,596 to complete the critical care nursing program here. Critical Care Nursing graduates of Southern Adventist University earn a median of $77,467 early in their careers. Set against $26,596 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Adventist University admits about 66% of applicants.
University Of South Carolina Columbia ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value critical care nursing schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Typical student debt for critical care nursing graduates is $24,250. Early-career critical care nursing graduates make about $103,138. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Duke University placed #11 among the best values for critical care 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. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the critical care nursing program here. Soon after graduation, critical care nursing degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $116,855. Set against $29,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Miami ranked #12 on our 2026 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. Typical student debt for critical care nursing graduates is $23,750. Critical Care Nursing graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $116,541 early in their careers. 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), 2026 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 2 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.
