2027 Best Value Nursing Administration Schools in the The Plains States Region
[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 20 schools to find the best return on investment for nursing administration students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Nursing Administration Schools in the The Plains States Region
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
Leading the list is University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, our #1 best value for nursing administration in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the nursing administration program here. Early-career nursing administration graduates make about $87,395. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
A rank of #2 makes Missouri Western State University one of the best values for nursing administration. Located in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,545, compared with $18,455 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the nursing administration program here. Early-career nursing administration graduates make about $70,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Winona State University one of the best values for nursing administration. Set in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,576, while out-of-state students pay about $17,308. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $26,252. Nursing Administration graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $101,220 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,252 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Metropolitan State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in nursing administration, landing the #4 spot this year. Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,840. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $35,762. Nursing Administration graduates of Metropolitan State University earn a median of $54,195 early in their careers. Set against $35,762 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Metropolitan State University admits about 99% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Capella University one of the best values for nursing administration. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $27,826 in student loans. Nursing Administration graduates of Capella University earn a median of $107,183 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Mary placed #6 among the best values for nursing administration. Located in the rural area of Bismarck, University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,356. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $28,578 in student loans. Early-career nursing administration graduates make about $93,565. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Minnesota State University Moorhead placed #7 among the best values for nursing administration. Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Moorhead. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,428. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $30,359. Early-career nursing administration graduates make about $50,892. That is a strong return on a $30,359 median debt. Minnesota State University Moorhead admits about 59% of applicants.
Nebraska Wesleyan University placed #8 among the best values for nursing administration. Set in the city of Lincoln, Nebraska Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $43,572. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the nursing administration program here. Nursing Administration graduates of Nebraska Wesleyan University earn a median of $86,680 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Clarkson College came in at #9 for value in nursing administration this year. Clarkson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Omaha. In-state tuition and fees average $16,104. Students borrow a median of $31,289 to complete the nursing administration program here. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from Clarkson College generally make around $99,917. That is a strong return on a $31,289 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Mount Mercy University came in at #10 for value in nursing administration this year. Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,878. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from Mount Mercy University generally make around $66,647. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Southwest Baptist University placed #11 among the best values for nursing administration. Set in the town of Bolivar, Southwest Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,566. Students borrow a median of $28,290 to complete the nursing administration program here. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from Southwest Baptist University generally make around $49,135. Set against $28,290 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southwest Baptist University admits about 68% of applicants.
University Of Iowa earned the #12 position for value in nursing administration this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Students borrow a median of $24,811 to complete the nursing administration program here. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $96,368. Set against $24,811 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health landed the #13 spot for nursing administration value this year. Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Omaha. Students from in state pay about $18,934 in tuition and fees. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $35,362 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health generally make around $80,755. Set against $35,362 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Augsburg College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing administration schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,452. Students borrow a median of $23,441 to complete the nursing administration program here. Early-career nursing administration graduates make about $104,795. Set against $23,441 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Augsburg College admits about 82% of applicants.
Saint Ambrose University placed #15 among the best values for nursing administration. Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Davenport. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,658. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Nursing Administration graduates of Saint Ambrose University earn a median of $57,252 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Baker University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing administration schools. Located in the rural area of Baldwin City, Baker University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $35,200 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,577 to complete the nursing administration program here. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from Baker University generally make around $70,720. Set against $29,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Baker University admits about 94% of applicants.
Bryan College Of Health Sciences earned the #17 position for value in nursing administration this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, Bryan College Of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $20,640 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $30,125. Early-career nursing administration graduates make about $133,424. That is a strong return on a $30,125 median debt. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Missouri Baptist University placed #18 among the best values for nursing administration. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $33,122 in tuition and fees. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Nursing Administration graduates of Missouri Baptist University earn a median of $69,968 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Missouri Baptist University admits about 69% of applicants.
Creighton University came in at #19 for value in nursing administration this year. Creighton University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Omaha. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,856. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Nursing Administration graduates of Creighton University earn a median of $96,152 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Walden University landed the #20 spot for nursing administration value this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,067. Students borrow a median of $32,800 to complete the nursing administration program here. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from Walden University generally make around $107,541. Set against $32,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
