
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value public health/community nurse/nursing schools.
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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 Wayne State University this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Students borrow a median of $30,165 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $55,469 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,165 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in public health/community nurse/nursing will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #2. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. 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. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Ohio University Main Campus one of the best values for public health/community nurse/nursing. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Typical student debt for public health/community nurse/nursing graduates is $26,778. Soon after graduation, public health/community nurse/nursing degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $80,108. Set against $26,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Cedarville University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public health/community nurse/nursing, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,150. Typical student debt for public health/community nurse/nursing graduates is $25,000. Early-career public health/community nurse/nursing graduates make about $86,430. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public health/community nurse/nursing, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $22,920 in student loans. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $109,491 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,920 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Methodist College earned the #6 position for value in public health/community nurse/nursing this year. Set in the city of Peoria, Methodist College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $18,008 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public health/community nurse/nursing graduates is $46,375. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of Methodist College earn a median of $67,809 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.