2026 Best Value Nursing Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Nursing Science](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/nursing-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 25 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 Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in nursing science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Nursing Science Schools
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis tops our 2026 list of the best value nursing science schools in the Great Lakes Region. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Nursing Science graduates carry a median of $28,408 in student loans. Early-career nursing science graduates make about $89,364. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing science schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the nursing science program here. Early-career nursing science graduates make about $87,290. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Students looking for strong value in nursing science will find it at Governors State University, which ranked #3. Governors State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,004. Nursing Science graduates carry a median of $27,342 in student loans. Early-career nursing science graduates make about $91,087. That is a strong return on a $27,342 median debt. Governors State University admits about 48% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saint Xavier University earned it the #4 place for nursing science. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,945. Students borrow a median of $27,188 to complete the nursing science program here. Nursing Science graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $95,130 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,188 median debt. Saint Xavier University admits about 84% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing science schools. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the nursing science program here. Early-career nursing science graduates make about $91,491. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #6 for value in nursing science this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,455 to complete the nursing science program here. Nursing Science graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $91,063 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Oakland University came in at #7 for value in nursing science this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Students borrow a median of $29,430 to complete the nursing science program here. Nursing Science graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $91,727 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,430 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University came in at #8 for value in nursing science this year. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing science graduates is $30,165. Early-career nursing science graduates make about $103,835. Set against $30,165 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing science schools. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,990. Typical student debt for nursing science graduates is $28,500. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $47,887. That is a strong return on a $28,500 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Toledo ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing science schools. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,157, compared with $21,517 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing science graduates is $22,400. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $76,736. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
Illinois State University landed the #11 spot for nursing science value this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Students borrow a median of $23,075 to complete the nursing science program here. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $49,660. Set against $23,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
North Park University came in at #12 for value in nursing science this year. Located in the city of Chicago, North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $36,710. Nursing Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career nursing science graduates make about $89,721. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University came in at #13 for value in nursing science this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Students borrow a median of $28,500 to complete the nursing science program here. Nursing Science graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $89,879 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Walsh University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing science schools. Set in the suburb of North Canton, Walsh University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,030. Nursing Science graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Early-career nursing science graduates make about $53,629. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Walsh University admits about 71% of applicants.
Marian University Wisconsin earned the #15 position for value in nursing science this year. Marian University Wisconsin is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fond Du Lac. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,204. Nursing Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career nursing science graduates make about $90,488. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Benedictine University earned the #16 position for value in nursing science this year. Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lisle. In-state tuition and fees average $32,648. Students borrow a median of $17,188 to complete the nursing science program here. Nursing Science graduates of Benedictine University earn a median of $90,860 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,188 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University placed #17 among the best values for nursing science. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Students borrow a median of $25,310 to complete the nursing science program here. Nursing Science graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $55,226 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,310 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Marquette University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing science schools. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $51,170. Nursing Science graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Early-career nursing science graduates make about $86,752. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing science schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Typical student debt for nursing science graduates is $27,000. Early-career nursing science graduates make about $111,912. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
Case Western Reserve University earned the #20 position for value in nursing science this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,608. Typical student debt for nursing science graduates is $26,580. Nursing Science graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $112,484 early in their careers. Set against $26,580 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Mary Of The Woods College came in at #21 for value in nursing science this year. Located in the rural area of Saint Mary of the Woods, Saint Mary Of The Woods College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,240 in tuition and fees. Nursing Science graduates carry a median of $31,931 in student loans. Nursing Science graduates of Saint Mary Of The Woods College earn a median of $69,460 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Mary Of The Woods College admits about 72% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
