2026 Best Value Nursing Science Schools in Minnesota
[Nursing Science](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/nursing-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong nursing science education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for nursing science students.
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2026 Best Value Nursing Science Schools in Minnesota
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
Leading the list is Winona State University, our #1 best value for nursing science in Minnesota. Set in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,576, while out-of-state students pay about $17,308. Students borrow a median of $26,252 to complete the nursing science program here. Early-career nursing science graduates make about $53,109. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Winona State University admits about 76% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Minnesota State University Mankato earned it the #2 place for nursing science. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,257 to complete the nursing science program here. Nursing Science graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $90,983 early in their careers. Set against $25,257 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Minnesota State University Mankato admits about 88% of applicants.
Metropolitan State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing science schools. 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 science program here. Early-career nursing science graduates make about $84,529. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Metropolitan State University admits about 99% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
