2027 Best Value Nursing Administration Schools in Illinois
[Nursing Administration](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/nursing-administration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for nursing administration students.
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2027 Best Value Nursing Administration Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in nursing administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Nursing Administration Schools
Leading the list is Saint Xavier University, our #1 best value for nursing administration in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,945 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $27,188. Nursing Administration graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $51,753 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Governors State University one of the best values for nursing administration. Set in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,004. Students borrow a median of $27,342 to complete the nursing administration program here. Nursing Administration graduates of Governors State University earn a median of $91,087 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,342 median debt. Governors State University admits about 48% of applicants.
University Of St Francis came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing administration schools. Located in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,110 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $30,700 to complete the nursing administration program here. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from University Of St Francis generally make around $94,166. Set against $30,700 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned it the #4 place for nursing administration. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,092. Students borrow a median of $23,043 to complete the nursing administration program here. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $118,455. That is a strong return on a $23,043 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in nursing administration will find it at Lewis University, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $39,200. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Nursing Administration graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $90,066 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Illinois College earned the #6 position for value in nursing administration this year. Illinois College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Jacksonville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,676. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $26,922 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from Illinois College generally make around $41,184. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Olivet Nazarene University earned the #7 position for value in nursing administration this year. Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. In-state tuition and fees average $38,900. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the nursing administration program here. Nursing Administration graduates of Olivet Nazarene University earn a median of $85,022 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Olivet Nazarene University admits about 56% of applicants.
Benedictine University placed #8 among the best values for nursing administration. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,648. Students borrow a median of $17,188 to complete the nursing administration program here. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from Benedictine University generally make around $90,860. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Benedictine University admits about 95% of applicants.
Bradley University came in at #9 for value in nursing administration this year. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $42,160. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the nursing administration program here. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from Bradley University generally make around $95,389. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Mckendree University earned the #10 position for value in nursing administration this year. Set in the suburb of Lebanon, Mckendree University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,740. Students borrow a median of $26,534 to complete the nursing administration program here. Nursing Administration graduates of Mckendree University earn a median of $86,955 early in their careers. Set against $26,534 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mckendree University admits about 72% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago earned the #11 position for value in nursing administration this year. 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. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Nursing Administration graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $111,912 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
More Nursing Administration Rankings
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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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
