2026 Best Value Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing Schools in the New England Region
[Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/psychiatric-mental-health-nurse-nursing/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing students.
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2026 Best Value Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing Schools in the New England Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Southern Maine the best value for a degree in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing in the New England Region. Set in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,090, with out-of-state students paying around $29,940. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $29,242 in student loans. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates of University Of Southern Maine earn a median of $87,246 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,242 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Post University one of the best values for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing. Post University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Waterbury. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,922. Students borrow a median of $35,364 to complete the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program here. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Post University generally make around $50,494. Set against $35,364 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. Set in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,612, while out-of-state students pay about $32,567. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates make about $99,349. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Students looking for strong value in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing will find it at Husson University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Bangor, Husson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $23,304 in tuition and fees. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Early-career psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates make about $96,750. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of New Hampshire Main Campus earned it the #5 place for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing. Located in the town of Durham, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $19,202, compared with $39,852 for out-of-state students. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from University Of New Hampshire Main Campus generally make around $111,076. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #6 position for value in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates is $29,548. Early-career psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates make about $95,758. Set against $29,548 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Norwich University placed #7 among the best values for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing. Set in the rural area of Northfield, Norwich University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,740. Typical student debt for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Norwich University generally make around $74,283. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Saint Joseph College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. Set in the city of West Hartford, Saint Joseph College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,278. Typical student debt for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates is $30,990. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Saint Joseph College generally make around $103,936. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Rivier College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. Set in the city of Nashua, Rivier College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $39,488. Typical student debt for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates is $32,750. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates of Rivier College earn a median of $83,130 early in their careers. Set against $32,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Fairfield University came in at #10 for value in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing this year. Fairfield University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fairfield. In-state tuition and fees average $58,400. Typical student debt for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates is $27,000. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates of Fairfield University earn a median of $119,878 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fairfield University admits about 33% of applicants.
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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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
