by our College Data Analytics Team
[Nursing Practice](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/nursing-practice/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value nursing practice schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in nursing practice, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Graceland University Lamoni, our #1 best value for nursing practice in Iowa. Graceland University Lamoni is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Lamoni. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,848. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $30,754 in student loans. Early-career nursing practice graduates make about $97,582. Set against $30,754 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Iowa earned it the #2 place for nursing practice. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $24,811 in student loans. Nursing Practice graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $96,368 early in their careers. Set against $24,811 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
A rank of #3 makes William Penn University one of the best values for nursing practice. Set in the town of Oskaloosa, William Penn University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,750. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $28,341 in student loans. Nursing Practice graduates of William Penn University earn a median of $39,727 early in their careers. Set against $28,341 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Students looking for strong value in nursing practice will find it at Morningside College, which ranked #4. Morningside College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux City. In-state tuition and fees average $39,519. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Early-career nursing practice graduates make about $84,126. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.