2027 Best Value Geriatric Nurse/Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Geriatric Nurse/Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/geriatric-nurse-nursing/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong geriatric nurse/nursing education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for geriatric nurse/nursing students.
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2027 Best Value Geriatric Nurse/Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the geriatric nurse/nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Geriatric Nurse/Nursing Schools
For return on investment in geriatric nurse/nursing, no school beat Oakland University this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Students borrow a median of $29,430 to complete the geriatric nurse/nursing program here. Early-career geriatric nurse/nursing graduates make about $91,727. Set against $29,430 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Purdue University Global is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geriatric nurse/nursing, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,101 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,412. Students borrow a median of $38,512 to complete the geriatric nurse/nursing program here. Early-career geriatric nurse/nursing graduates make about $96,363. Set against $38,512 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a great value for students pursuing a degree in geriatric nurse/nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the geriatric nurse/nursing program here. Soon after graduation, geriatric nurse/nursing degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $91,969. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in geriatric nurse/nursing will find it at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Geriatric Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $28,408 in student loans. Early-career geriatric nurse/nursing graduates make about $89,364. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in geriatric nurse/nursing will find it at University Of Southern Indiana, which ranked #5. University Of Southern Indiana is a large public school located in the suburb of Evansville. In-state tuition and fees average $10,066, compared with $22,907 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for geriatric nurse/nursing graduates is $25,089. Early-career geriatric nurse/nursing graduates make about $91,255. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Akron Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value geriatric nurse/nursing schools. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the geriatric nurse/nursing program here. Soon after graduation, geriatric nurse/nursing degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $102,988. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne placed #7 among the best values for geriatric nurse/nursing. University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Wayne. In-state tuition and fees average $36,460. Students borrow a median of $32,570 to complete the geriatric nurse/nursing program here. Soon after graduation, geriatric nurse/nursing degree recipients from University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne generally make around $57,192. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Spring Arbor University placed #8 among the best values for geriatric nurse/nursing. Spring Arbor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Spring Arbor. Students from in state pay about $34,014 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for geriatric nurse/nursing graduates is $29,748. Geriatric Nurse/nursing graduates of Spring Arbor University earn a median of $89,684 early in their careers. Set against $29,748 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Spring Arbor University admits about 52% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for geriatric nurse/nursing. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Typical student debt for geriatric nurse/nursing graduates is $26,778. Early-career geriatric nurse/nursing graduates make about $49,736. Set against $26,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Malone University came in at #10 for value in geriatric nurse/nursing this year. Located in the city of Canton, Malone University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $37,160. Students borrow a median of $32,055 to complete the geriatric nurse/nursing program here. Soon after graduation, geriatric nurse/nursing degree recipients from Malone University generally make around $84,894. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Marian University Wisconsin placed #11 among the best values for geriatric nurse/nursing. Located in the city of Fond Du Lac, Marian University Wisconsin is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $35,204. Typical student debt for geriatric nurse/nursing graduates is $27,000. Geriatric Nurse/nursing graduates of Marian University Wisconsin earn a median of $72,102 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Herzing University Madison ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value geriatric nurse/nursing schools. Located in the city of Madison, Herzing University Madison is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,450. Typical student debt for geriatric nurse/nursing graduates is $37,747. Early-career geriatric nurse/nursing graduates make about $90,021. That is a strong return on a $37,747 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Alverno College landed the #13 spot for geriatric nurse/nursing value this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Alverno College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,086. Students borrow a median of $34,000 to complete the geriatric nurse/nursing program here. Early-career geriatric nurse/nursing graduates make about $91,109. Set against $34,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Alverno College admits about 86% of applicants.
Franklin University landed the #14 spot for geriatric nurse/nursing value this year. Franklin University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbus. Students from in state pay about $9,577 in tuition and fees. Geriatric Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $35,890 in student loans. Early-career geriatric nurse/nursing graduates make about $57,471. Set against $35,890 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saint Marys College earned the #15 position for value in geriatric nurse/nursing this year. Saint Marys College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. Students from in state pay about $53,230 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for geriatric nurse/nursing graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, geriatric nurse/nursing degree recipients from Saint Marys College generally make around $74,962. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Edgewood College earned the #16 position for value in geriatric nurse/nursing this year. Set in the city of Madison, Edgewood College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $35,860 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for geriatric nurse/nursing graduates is $27,000. Geriatric Nurse/nursing graduates of Edgewood College earn a median of $56,578 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Edgewood College admits about 76% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago placed #17 among the best values for geriatric nurse/nursing. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Typical student debt for geriatric nurse/nursing graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, geriatric nurse/nursing degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $58,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Case Western Reserve University landed the #18 spot for geriatric nurse/nursing value this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $66,608. Geriatric Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $26,580 in student loans. Soon after graduation, geriatric nurse/nursing degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $112,484. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.