2026 Best Value Critical Care Nursing Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Critical Care Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/critical-care-nursing/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for critical care nursing students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Critical Care Nursing Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the critical care nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Critical Care Nursing Schools
Leading the list is Winona State University, our #1 best value for critical care nursing in the The Plains States Region. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,576, compared with $17,308 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for critical care nursing graduates is $26,252. Critical Care Nursing graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $101,220 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Winona State University admits about 76% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Maryville University Of Saint Louis one of the best values for critical care nursing. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,166. Students borrow a median of $29,881 to complete the critical care nursing program here. Critical Care Nursing graduates of Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn a median of $103,656 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Louis University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in critical care nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,760. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the critical care nursing program here. Early-career critical care nursing graduates make about $84,374. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Creighton University earned it the #4 place for critical care nursing. Located in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $48,856 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the critical care nursing program here. Soon after graduation, critical care nursing degree recipients from Creighton University generally make around $64,369. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 5 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.
