[Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/public-health-community-nurse-nursing/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public health/community nurse/nursing education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 33 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value public health/community nurse/nursing schools.
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The right public health/community nurse/nursing school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Read more about our methodology
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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public health/community nurse/nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in public health/community nurse/nursing, no school beat Cuny Hunter College this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,382 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,332. Students borrow a median of $16,944 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $121,767 early in their careers. Set against $16,944 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Students looking for strong value in public health/community nurse/nursing will find it at Cuny College Of Staten Island, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,490, with out-of-state students paying around $15,440. Students borrow a median of $17,258 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Soon after graduation, public health/community nurse/nursing degree recipients from Cuny College Of Staten Island generally make around $51,911. That is a strong return on a $17,258 median debt. Cuny College Of Staten Island admits about 92% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Long Beach earned it the #3 place for public health/community nurse/nursing. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $18,661 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health/community nurse/nursing degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $51,087. Set against $18,661 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value public health/community nurse/nursing schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for public health/community nurse/nursing graduates is $19,000. Early-career public health/community nurse/nursing graduates make about $91,969. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value public health/community nurse/nursing schools. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $65,681 early in their careers. Set against $18,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Rhode Island College came in at #6 for value in public health/community nurse/nursing this year. Rhode Island College is a large public school located in the suburb of Providence. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,300, with out-of-state students paying around $27,299. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of Rhode Island College earn a median of $107,588 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Wayne State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value public health/community nurse/nursing schools. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $30,165 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health/community nurse/nursing degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $55,469. That is a strong return on a $30,165 median debt. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of California Irvine came in at #8 for value in public health/community nurse/nursing this year. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,752, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public health/community nurse/nursing graduates is $13,400. Soon after graduation, public health/community nurse/nursing degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $87,466. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
Worcester State University landed the #9 spot for public health/community nurse/nursing value this year. Set in the city of Worcester, Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,786 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,866. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $26,849 in student loans. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of Worcester State University earn a median of $75,249 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Coppin State University landed the #10 spot for public health/community nurse/nursing value this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Coppin State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,100, while out-of-state students pay about $14,024. Students borrow a median of $36,369 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of Coppin State University earn a median of $84,702 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
East Carolina University landed the #11 spot for public health/community nurse/nursing value this year. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,361, with out-of-state students paying around $23,638. Typical student debt for public health/community nurse/nursing graduates is $25,264. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $96,898 early in their careers. Set against $25,264 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Jacksonville State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value public health/community nurse/nursing schools. Jacksonville State University is a large public school located in the suburb of Jacksonville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,894, while out-of-state students pay about $23,334. Typical student debt for public health/community nurse/nursing graduates is $21,500. Early-career public health/community nurse/nursing graduates make about $74,453. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Kansas came in at #13 for value in public health/community nurse/nursing this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Typical student debt for public health/community nurse/nursing graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, public health/community nurse/nursing degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $56,289. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arkansas At Monticello ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value public health/community nurse/nursing schools. Located in the town of Monticello, University Of Arkansas At Monticello is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,292, compared with $14,857 for out-of-state students. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $15,611 in student loans. Early-career public health/community nurse/nursing graduates make about $63,323. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
La Salle University earned the #15 position for value in public health/community nurse/nursing this year. La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $37,800. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of La Salle University earn a median of $54,618 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Binghamton came in at #16 for value in public health/community nurse/nursing this year. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,567, with out-of-state students paying around $30,447. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health/community nurse/nursing degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $100,425. Set against $23,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Graceland University Lamoni landed the #17 spot for public health/community nurse/nursing value this year. Set in the rural area of Lamoni, Graceland University Lamoni is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $19,848 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public health/community nurse/nursing graduates is $30,754. Soon after graduation, public health/community nurse/nursing degree recipients from Graceland University Lamoni generally make around $63,443. That is a strong return on a $30,754 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Dyouville College landed the #18 spot for public health/community nurse/nursing value this year. Located in the city of Buffalo, Dyouville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,940. Students borrow a median of $30,997 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of Dyouville College earn a median of $70,550 early in their careers. Set against $30,997 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth placed #19 among the best values for public health/community nurse/nursing. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. Students from in state pay about $15,612 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,567 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earn a median of $99,349 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #20 position for value in public health/community nurse/nursing this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $26,778 in student loans. Early-career public health/community nurse/nursing graduates make about $80,108. Set against $26,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #21 position for value in public health/community nurse/nursing this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Typical student debt for public health/community nurse/nursing graduates is $29,548. Early-career public health/community nurse/nursing graduates make about $95,758. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health came in at #22 for value in public health/community nurse/nursing this year. Located in the city of Omaha, Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,934. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $35,362 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health/community nurse/nursing degree recipients from Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health generally make around $80,755. That is a strong return on a $35,362 median debt. Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health admits about 73% of applicants.
Grand Canyon University landed the #23 spot for public health/community nurse/nursing value this year. Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,508. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Early-career public health/community nurse/nursing graduates make about $115,226. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Emory University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value public health/community nurse/nursing schools. Emory University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Atlanta. Students from in state pay about $64,280 in tuition and fees. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health/community nurse/nursing degree recipients from Emory University generally make around $67,840. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Cedarville University landed the #25 spot for public health/community nurse/nursing value this year. Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Cedarville. Students from in state pay about $37,150 in tuition and fees. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career public health/community nurse/nursing graduates make about $86,430. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
These schools also delivered strong value for public health/community nurse/nursing this year:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 33 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 33 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.
