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2026 Best Value Nursing Science Associate’s Degree Schools

6 Colleges in the United States
$25,534 Avg Student Debt
$31,126 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Nursing Science Associate's Degree Badge [Nursing Science](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/nursing-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 176 schools to find the best return on investment for nursing science students.

What’s on this page:

2026 Best Value Nursing Science Schools in the United States

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the nursing science degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Nursing Science Schools

1

Leading the list is Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Sebastian, our #1 best value for nursing science in the United States. Located in the suburb of San Sebastian, Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Sebastian is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $7,050 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,125. Typical student debt for nursing science graduates is $16,000. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Sebastian generally make around $31,869. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.

2

Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Juan came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing science schools. Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Juan is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Juan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,050, compared with $14,125 for out-of-state students. Nursing Science graduates carry a median of $16,000 in student loans. Nursing Science graduates of Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Juan earn a median of $31,869 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Juan admits about 61% of applicants.

3

Edp University Of Puerto Rico Manati came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing science schools. Edp University Of Puerto Rico Manati is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Manati. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,050, compared with $14,125 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing science graduates is $16,000. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from Edp University Of Puerto Rico Manati generally make around $31,869. Set against $16,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.

4

Edp University Of Puerto Rico Villalba came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing science schools. Located in the suburb of Villalba, Edp University Of Puerto Rico Villalba is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,050, with out-of-state students paying around $14,125. Students borrow a median of $16,000 to complete the nursing science program here. Early-career nursing science graduates make about $31,869. Set against $16,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.

5

Edp University Of Puerto Rico Humacao is a great value for students pursuing a degree in nursing science, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Humacao, Edp University Of Puerto Rico Humacao is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $7,050 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,125. Nursing Science graduates carry a median of $16,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from Edp University Of Puerto Rico Humacao generally make around $31,869. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.

6

Icpr Junior College Manati landed the #6 spot for nursing science value this year. Located in the suburb of Manati, Icpr Junior College Manati is a small private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,664. Nursing Science graduates of Icpr Junior College Manati earn a median of $10,086 early in their careers.

7

Icpr Junior College Mayaguez ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing science schools. Located in the city of Mayaguez, Icpr Junior College Mayaguez is a small private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $8,664 in tuition and fees. Early-career nursing science graduates make about $10,086.

8

Universal Technology College Of Puerto Rico earned the #8 position for value in nursing science this year. Universal Technology College Of Puerto Rico is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Aguadilla. Nursing Science graduates of Universal Technology College Of Puerto Rico earn a median of $17,500 early in their careers.

9
Rivier College crest
Rivier College
Nashua, NH

Rivier College earned the #9 position for value in nursing science this year. Located in the city of Nashua, Rivier College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,488. Students borrow a median of $38,500 to complete the nursing science program here. Early-career nursing science graduates make about $65,499. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.

10
Goodwin College crest
Goodwin College
East Hartford, CT

Goodwin College landed the #10 spot for nursing science value this year. Located in the city of East Hartford, Goodwin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,188. Nursing Science graduates carry a median of $54,370 in student loans. Nursing Science graduates of Goodwin College earn a median of $79,227 early in their careers. Set against $54,370 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

11

Sacred Heart University landed the #11 spot for nursing science value this year. Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fairfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,404. Students borrow a median of $31,400 to complete the nursing science program here. Nursing Science graduates of Sacred Heart University earn a median of $84,899 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Sacred Heart University admits about 65% of applicants.

Other Nursing Science Degree Levels

Explore the best-value nursing science schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Nursing Science
Bachelor's Degrees in Nursing Science
Master's Degrees in Nursing Science
View All Nursing Science Rankings >

Notes and References

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 · 176 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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