2026 Best Value Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

[Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/perioperative-operating-room-and-surgical-nurse-nursing/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing schools.
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2026 Best Value Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing Schools
Leading the list is Delaware County Community College, our #1 best value for perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing in the Middle Atlantic Region. Delaware County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Media. In-state tuition and fees average $6,930, with out-of-state students paying around $15,540. Typical student debt for perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing degree recipients from Delaware County Community College generally make around $72,491. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Typical student debt for perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing graduates is $25,500. Perioperative/operating Room And Surgical Nurse/nursing graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $98,377 early in their careers. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing graduates is $22,410. Perioperative/operating Room And Surgical Nurse/nursing graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $137,262 early in their careers. Set against $22,410 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Hofstra University one of the best values for perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing. Located in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,660. Students borrow a median of $24,848 to complete the perioperative/operating room and surgical nurse/nursing program here. Perioperative/operating Room And Surgical Nurse/nursing graduates of Hofstra University earn a median of $132,442 early in their careers. Set against $24,848 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 1 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.