2026 Best Value Nursing Administration Schools in North Carolina
[Nursing Administration](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/nursing-administration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong nursing administration education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for nursing administration students.
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2026 Best Value Nursing Administration Schools in North Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the nursing administration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Nursing Administration Schools
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte tops our 2026 list of the best value nursing administration schools in North Carolina. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,239, with out-of-state students paying around $22,492. Students borrow a median of $25,044 to complete the nursing administration program here. Nursing Administration graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $95,753 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at East Carolina University earned it the #2 place for nursing administration. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,361, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $25,264. Nursing Administration graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $96,898 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences is a great value for students pursuing a degree in nursing administration, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Concord, Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,550. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $24,968. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences generally make around $72,592. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences admits about 23% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in nursing administration will find it at Lenoir Rhyne University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Hickory, Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $31,900 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $26,300. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from Lenoir Rhyne University generally make around $64,846. Set against $26,300 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lenoir Rhyne University admits about 85% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Gardner Webb University one of the best values for nursing administration. Located in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,750. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $22,461 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from Gardner Webb University generally make around $63,220. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Queens University Of Charlotte placed #6 among the best values for nursing administration. Located in the city of Charlotte, Queens University Of Charlotte is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,846. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $31,757 in student loans. Nursing Administration graduates of Queens University Of Charlotte earn a median of $83,537 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,757 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Duke University landed the #7 spot for nursing administration value this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,758 in tuition and fees. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Early-career nursing administration graduates make about $116,855. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
More Nursing Administration Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
