[Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong nursing education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 299 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value nursing schools.
Our analysis ranked Joliet Junior College the best value for a degree in nursing in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Nursing graduates carry a median of $18,617 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $71,988. That is a strong return on a $18,617 median debt.
Macomb Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing schools. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Nursing graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans. Nursing graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $69,619 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lake Land College earned it the #3 place for nursing. Located in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,415 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,301. Students borrow a median of $8,950 to complete the nursing program here. Early-career nursing graduates make about $63,651. Set against $8,950 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Schoolcraft College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing schools. Set in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,799, compared with $6,501 for out-of-state students. Nursing graduates carry a median of $26,676 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Schoolcraft College generally make around $74,889. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Moraine Valley Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,822, compared with $9,846 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $19,345. Nursing graduates of Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of $73,137 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Henry Ford Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing schools. Located in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,568, compared with $7,816 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $26,613. Nursing graduates of Henry Ford Community College earn a median of $71,268 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Carl Sandburg College came in at #7 for value in nursing this year. Set in the town of Galesburg, Carl Sandburg College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,390, compared with $8,900 for out-of-state students. Nursing graduates carry a median of $9,437 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Carl Sandburg College generally make around $66,508. Set against $9,437 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washtenaw Community College landed the #8 spot for nursing value this year. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $25,412. Early-career nursing graduates make about $70,145. That is a strong return on a $25,412 median debt.
Richland Community College came in at #9 for value in nursing this year. Located in the city of Decatur, Richland Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,680, while out-of-state students pay about $17,070. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the nursing program here. Nursing graduates of Richland Community College earn a median of $68,635 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Delta College landed the #10 spot for nursing value this year. Delta College is a large public school located in the rural area of University Center. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, with out-of-state students paying around $7,880. Nursing graduates carry a median of $19,955 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Delta College generally make around $67,922. Set against $19,955 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lincoln Land Community College earned the #11 position for value in nursing this year. Set in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,744, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $20,416. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Lincoln Land Community College generally make around $66,279. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kishwaukee College placed #12 among the best values for nursing. Located in the rural area of Malta, Kishwaukee College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, compared with $13,680 for out-of-state students. Nursing graduates carry a median of $10,328 in student loans. Early-career nursing graduates make about $30,398. That is a strong return on a $10,328 median debt.
Lewis And Clark Community College landed the #13 spot for nursing value this year. Set in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,340, with out-of-state students paying around $7,840. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $12,500. Early-career nursing graduates make about $60,115. Set against $12,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College placed #14 among the best values for nursing. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kalamazoo. Students from in state pay about $4,144 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,094. Students borrow a median of $20,751 to complete the nursing program here. Early-career nursing graduates make about $66,602. That is a strong return on a $20,751 median debt.
Illinois Valley Community College came in at #15 for value in nursing this year. Located in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,200, compared with $16,385 for out-of-state students. Nursing graduates carry a median of $12,175 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Illinois Valley Community College generally make around $62,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuyahoga Community College District earned the #16 position for value in nursing this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,249, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $17,717. Nursing graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $62,630 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,717 median debt.
Lorain County Community College landed the #17 spot for nursing value this year. Set in the suburb of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,265, while out-of-state students pay about $8,860. Nursing graduates carry a median of $23,996 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Lorain County Community College generally make around $64,242. That is a strong return on a $23,996 median debt.
Oakton Community College came in at #18 for value in nursing this year. Located in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,985, compared with $12,462 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete the nursing program here. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Oakton Community College generally make around $69,434. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana University Kokomo came in at #19 for value in nursing this year. Set in the city of Kokomo, Indiana University Kokomo is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Nursing graduates carry a median of $26,832 in student loans. Early-career nursing graduates make about $92,379. Set against $26,832 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Kokomo admits about 86% of applicants.
Danville Area Community College came in at #20 for value in nursing this year. Danville Area Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Danville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,440, with out-of-state students paying around $7,440. Nursing graduates carry a median of $11,372 in student loans. Nursing graduates of Danville Area Community College earn a median of $67,152 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Muskegon Community College placed #21 among the best values for nursing. Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Muskegon. In-state tuition and fees average $7,250, compared with $16,010 for out-of-state students. Nursing graduates carry a median of $19,789 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Muskegon Community College generally make around $65,793. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakland Community College placed #22 among the best values for nursing. Oakland Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Auburn Hills. Students from in state pay about $3,120 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,560. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $16,010. Nursing graduates of Oakland Community College earn a median of $68,856 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,010 median debt.
Purdue University Northwest landed the #23 spot for nursing value this year. Located in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,357, while out-of-state students pay about $15,504. Nursing graduates carry a median of $24,552 in student loans. Early-career nursing graduates make about $93,180. Set against $24,552 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Northwest admits about 72% of applicants.
Triton College landed the #24 spot for nursing value this year. Located in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,070, compared with $15,330 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $18,209. Early-career nursing graduates make about $63,003. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College placed #25 among the best values for nursing. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,517, while out-of-state students pay about $10,044. Nursing graduates carry a median of $26,903 in student loans. Nursing graduates of Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earn a median of $68,156 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,903 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Nursing Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s nursing value ranking:
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 · 299 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 299 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).
[Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong nursing education at a price that pays off.
