2026 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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 27 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value nursing administration schools.
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2026 Best Value Nursing Administration Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in nursing administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Nursing Administration Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Minnesota Twin Cities the best value for a degree in 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, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $87,395. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Clarkson College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing administration schools. Set in the city of Omaha, Clarkson College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,104. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $31,289. Nursing Administration graduates of Clarkson College earn a median of $99,917 early in their careers. Set against $31,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Clarkson College admits about 78% of applicants.
A rank of #3 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. In-state tuition and fees average $9,545, with out-of-state students paying around $18,455. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $25,000. Early-career nursing administration graduates make about $70,938. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Winona State University one of the best values for nursing administration. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,576, with out-of-state students paying around $17,308. Students borrow a median of $26,252 to complete the nursing administration program here. 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. Winona State University admits about 76% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Capella University one of the best values for nursing administration. Capella University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400. Students borrow a median of $27,826 to complete the nursing administration program here. Nursing Administration graduates of Capella University earn a median of $107,183 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,826 median debt.
Minnesota State University Moorhead earned the #6 position for value in nursing administration this year. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,428. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $30,359. Nursing Administration graduates of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of $85,972 early in their careers. Set against $30,359 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 59%.
University Of Mary placed #7 among the best values for nursing administration. University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Bismarck. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,356. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $28,578. Nursing Administration graduates of University Of Mary earn a median of $93,565 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Metropolitan State University came in at #8 for value in nursing administration this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,840. Students borrow a median of $35,762 to complete the nursing administration program here. Early-career nursing administration graduates make about $54,195. Set against $35,762 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing administration schools. Set in the city of Omaha, Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,934. Students borrow a median of $35,362 to complete the nursing administration program here. Nursing Administration graduates of Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health earn a median of $80,755 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $35,362 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Iowa ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing administration schools. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. 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. Early-career nursing administration graduates make about $96,368. Set against $24,811 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Southwest Baptist University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing administration schools. Located in the town of Bolivar, Southwest Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,566. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $28,290. Nursing Administration graduates of Southwest Baptist University earn a median of $49,135 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Baker University placed #12 among the best values for nursing administration. Baker University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Baldwin City. 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. Early-career nursing administration graduates make about $70,720. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Saint Ambrose University landed the #13 spot for nursing administration value this year. Located in the city of Davenport, Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $36,658. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $27,000. 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. Saint Ambrose University admits about 77% of applicants.
Nebraska Wesleyan University landed the #14 spot for nursing administration value this year. Nebraska Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lincoln. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,572. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $27,000. Early-career nursing administration graduates make about $86,680. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Nebraska Wesleyan University admits about 80% of applicants.
Mount Mercy University earned the #15 position for value in nursing administration this year. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,878 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $27,000. Nursing Administration graduates of Mount Mercy University earn a median of $66,647 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Augsburg College placed #16 among the best values for nursing administration. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,452. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $23,441 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from Augsburg College generally make around $104,795. That is a strong return on a $23,441 median debt. Augsburg College admits about 82% of applicants.
Missouri Baptist University earned the #17 position for value in nursing administration this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,122. Nursing Administration graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing administration degree recipients from Missouri Baptist University generally make around $69,968. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Bryan College Of Health Sciences ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing administration schools. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Bethel University Minnesota landed the #19 spot for nursing administration value this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,226. Typical student debt for nursing administration graduates is $27,000. Nursing Administration graduates of Bethel University Minnesota earn a median of $61,465 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Creighton University placed #20 among the best values for nursing administration. Located in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,856. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the nursing administration program here. 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. 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. 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 · 27 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.
