[Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/public-health-community-nurse-nursing/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 35 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public health/community nurse/nursing students.
What’s on this page:
The public health/community nurse/nursing program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we built our Best Value Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Read more about our methodology
Customizing Your List
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. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
See how we build our rankings
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. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,382, while out-of-state students pay about $15,332. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $16,944 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health/community nurse/nursing degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $51,372. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in public health/community nurse/nursing will find it at California State University Long Beach, which ranked #2. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,374, compared with $19,974 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public health/community nurse/nursing graduates is $18,661. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $129,036 early in their careers. Set against $18,661 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Long Beach admits about 46% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny College Of Staten Island earned it the #3 place for public health/community nurse/nursing. Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public school located in the city of Staten Island. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,490, while out-of-state students pay about $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. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of California Irvine is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public health/community nurse/nursing, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Students borrow a median of $13,400 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $87,466 early in their careers. Set against $13,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in public health/community nurse/nursing will find it at University Of Washington Seattle Campus, which ranked #5. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. 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. That is a strong return on a $18,750 median debt. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Rhode Island College landed the #6 spot for public health/community nurse/nursing value this year. Located in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,300, compared with $27,299 for out-of-state students. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health/community nurse/nursing degree recipients from Rhode Island College generally make around $107,588. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #7 spot for public health/community nurse/nursing value this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Early-career public health/community nurse/nursing graduates make about $91,969. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Worcester State University earned the #8 position for value in public health/community nurse/nursing this year. Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Worcester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,786, with out-of-state students paying around $17,866. Typical student debt for public health/community nurse/nursing graduates is $26,849. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of Worcester State University earn a median of $45,297 early in their careers. Set against $26,849 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Coppin State University came in at #9 for value in public health/community nurse/nursing this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Coppin State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Soon after graduation, public health/community nurse/nursing degree recipients from Coppin State University generally make around $84,702. Set against $36,369 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Wayne State University landed the #10 spot for public health/community nurse/nursing value this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,165 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Early-career public health/community nurse/nursing graduates make about $103,835. That is a strong return on a $30,165 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Jacksonville State University landed the #11 spot for public health/community nurse/nursing value this year. Located in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,894, compared with $23,334 for out-of-state students. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of Jacksonville State University earn a median of $74,453 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
East Carolina University came in at #12 for value in public health/community nurse/nursing this year. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,361, with out-of-state students paying around $23,638. Students borrow a median of $25,264 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Soon after graduation, public health/community nurse/nursing degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $96,898. That is a strong return on a $25,264 median debt. East Carolina University admits about 89% of applicants.
Methodist College landed the #13 spot for public health/community nurse/nursing value this year. Methodist College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,008. Students borrow a median of $46,375 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of Methodist College earn a median of $67,809 early in their careers. Set against $46,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Graceland University Lamoni came in at #14 for value in public health/community nurse/nursing this year. Located in the rural area of Lamoni, Graceland University Lamoni is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,848. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $30,754 in student loans. Early-career public health/community nurse/nursing graduates make about $63,443. That is a strong return on a $30,754 median debt. Graceland University Lamoni admits about 81% of applicants.
Dyouville College placed #15 among the best values for public health/community nurse/nursing. Set in the city of Buffalo, Dyouville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,940. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $30,997 in student loans. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of Dyouville College earn a median of $70,550 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,997 median debt. Dyouville College admits about 81% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #16 position for value in public health/community nurse/nursing this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,778 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Soon after graduation, public health/community nurse/nursing degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. That is a strong return on a $26,778 median debt. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health came in at #17 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,934. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $35,362 in student loans. Early-career public health/community nurse/nursing graduates make about $80,755. That is a strong return on a $35,362 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Binghamton earned the #18 position for value in public health/community nurse/nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of Suny At Binghamton earn a median of $100,425 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,750 median debt. Roughly 39% 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. Typical student debt for public health/community nurse/nursing graduates is $27,000. Early-career public health/community nurse/nursing graduates make about $99,349. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
La Salle University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value public health/community nurse/nursing schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,800. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career public health/community nurse/nursing graduates make about $54,618. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. La Salle University admits about 97% of applicants.
Grand Canyon University placed #21 among the best values for public health/community nurse/nursing. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,508. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of Grand Canyon University earn a median of $115,226 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value public health/community nurse/nursing schools. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Students borrow a median of $29,548 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Soon after graduation, public health/community nurse/nursing degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $53,543. Set against $29,548 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants.
Bluefield College landed the #23 spot for public health/community nurse/nursing value this year. Bluefield College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Bluefield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,770. Students borrow a median of $22,442 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of Bluefield College earn a median of $89,770 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bluefield College admits about 59% of applicants.
Emory University placed #24 among the best values for public health/community nurse/nursing. Emory University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Atlanta. In-state tuition and fees average $64,280. Typical student debt for public health/community nurse/nursing graduates is $25,000. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of Emory University earn a median of $67,840 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Cedarville University came in at #25 for value in public health/community nurse/nursing this year. Located in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $37,150. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Soon after graduation, public health/community nurse/nursing degree recipients from Cedarville University generally make around $86,430. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Cedarville University admits about 65% of applicants.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s public health/community nurse/nursing value ranking:
Narrow Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing Schools by Region
View All Rankings >
Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
