College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Nursing Science Schools in North Carolina

4 Colleges in the United States
$24,798 Avg Student Debt
$65,655 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Nursing Science Badge [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.

College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value nursing science schools.

What’s on this page:

2026 Best Value Nursing Science Schools in North Carolina

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in nursing science, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Nursing Science Schools

1

Leading the list is University Of North Carolina At Greensboro, our #1 best value for nursing science in North Carolina. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Nursing Science graduates carry a median of $24,701 in student loans. Nursing Science graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $103,649 early in their careers. Set against $24,701 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro admits about 88% of applicants.

2

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing science schools. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Students borrow a median of $23,026 to complete the nursing science program here. Nursing Science graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $91,154 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,026 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.

3

Students looking for strong value in nursing science will find it at East Carolina University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,361, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing science graduates is $25,264. Early-career nursing science graduates make about $96,898. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.

4

A rank of #4 makes University Of North Carolina At Wilmington one of the best values for nursing science. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,277, while out-of-state students pay about $24,152. Typical student debt for nursing science graduates is $22,000. Early-career nursing science graduates make about $46,164. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.

5
Duke University crest
Duke University
Durham, NC

Students looking for strong value in nursing science will find it at Duke University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,758. Typical student debt for nursing science graduates is $29,000. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $116,855. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. Duke University admits about 6% of applicants.

View All Nursing Science Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 5 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options