[Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong nursing education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 2207 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value nursing schools.
Our analysis ranked Cuny Hunter College the best value for a degree in nursing in the United States. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Nursing graduates carry a median of $16,944 in student loans. Early-career nursing graduates make about $139,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Dominguez Hills earned it the #2 place for nursing. Set in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,454, while out-of-state students pay about $20,054. Nursing graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from California State University Dominguez Hills generally make around $128,758. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Dominguez Hills admits about 93% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in nursing will find it at California State University Los Angeles, which ranked #3. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $7,164, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Nursing graduates carry a median of $18,964 in student loans. Early-career nursing graduates make about $145,897. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Los Angeles admits about 91% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Texas A And M International University earned it the #4 place for nursing. Texas A And M International University is a large public school located in the city of Laredo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,894, compared with $19,454 for out-of-state students. Nursing graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Nursing graduates of Texas A And M International University earn a median of $116,512 early in their careers. Set against $13,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Cuny Lehman College one of the best values for nursing. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,410, with out-of-state students paying around $15,360. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $20,055. Nursing graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of $150,048 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Lehman College admits about 57% of applicants.
California State University Fullerton placed #6 among the best values for nursing. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Nursing graduates carry a median of $17,375 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $193,133. Set against $17,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Stanislaus landed the #7 spot for nursing value this year. Located in the suburb of Turlock, California State University Stanislaus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,242 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,842. Students borrow a median of $23,450 to complete the nursing program here. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from California State University Stanislaus generally make around $137,158. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Stanislaus admits about 98% of applicants.
California State University Bakersfield came in at #8 for value in nursing this year. Set in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,087 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,687. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,009. The acceptance rate is 94%.
California State University Long Beach earned the #9 position for value in nursing this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $18,661. Early-career nursing graduates make about $143,563. Set against $18,661 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Florida Atlantic University landed the #10 spot for nursing value this year. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,879, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Nursing graduates carry a median of $21,070 in student loans. Early-career nursing graduates make about $95,703. Set against $21,070 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Florida International University came in at #11 for value in nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $18,895. Early-career nursing graduates make about $114,379. Set against $18,895 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
California State University Channel Islands came in at #12 for value in nursing this year. California State University Channel Islands is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Camarillo. In-state tuition and fees average $7,159, compared with $19,759 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $19,750. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from California State University Channel Islands generally make around $103,484. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
National University College Bayamon came in at #13 for value in nursing this year. Set in the city of Bayamon, National University College Bayamon is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,723, while out-of-state students pay about $13,886. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $14,418. Nursing graduates of National University College Bayamon earn a median of $38,330 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,418 median debt.
The University Of West Florida ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing schools. Set in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,776, with out-of-state students paying around $18,658. Nursing graduates carry a median of $21,740 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from The University Of West Florida generally make around $103,426. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Northern Kentucky University landed the #15 spot for nursing value this year. Set in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,088, while out-of-state students pay about $21,912. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $31,000. Nursing graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn a median of $101,465 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #16 for value in nursing this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $22,452. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $108,040. That is a strong return on a $22,452 median debt. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing schools. Located in the town of Portales, Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,074 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,054. Nursing graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Early-career nursing graduates make about $98,411. That is a strong return on a $18,750 median debt. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus admits about 92% of applicants.
Indiana University Kokomo placed #18 among the best values for nursing. Indiana University Kokomo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Kokomo. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $26,832. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Indiana University Kokomo generally make around $110,585. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Kokomo admits about 86% of applicants.
California State University San Marcos placed #19 among the best values for nursing. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,082 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,682 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,047 to complete the nursing program here. Nursing graduates of California State University San Marcos earn a median of $119,753 early in their careers. Set against $25,047 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University San Marcos admits about 95% of applicants.
California State University Sacramento landed the #20 spot for nursing value this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,018, while out-of-state students pay about $20,618. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the nursing program here. Early-career nursing graduates make about $103,776. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Indiana University Northwest came in at #21 for value in nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Gary, Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Nursing graduates carry a median of $29,890 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Indiana University Northwest generally make around $73,335. Set against $29,890 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Purdue University Northwest placed #22 among the best values for nursing. Purdue University Northwest is a large public school located in the suburb of Hammond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,357, while out-of-state students pay about $15,504. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $24,552. Early-career nursing graduates make about $108,669. That is a strong return on a $24,552 median debt. Purdue University Northwest admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of North Florida came in at #23 for value in nursing this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,964, with out-of-state students paying around $19,407. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $18,750. Nursing graduates of University Of North Florida earn a median of $116,277 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 53%.
Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Sebastian placed #24 among the best values for nursing. Located in the suburb of San Sebastian, Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Sebastian is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,050, while out-of-state students pay about $14,125. Students borrow a median of $16,725 to complete the nursing program here. Early-career nursing graduates make about $34,916. Set against $16,725 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Edp College Of Puerto Rico Inc San Sebastian admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus earned the #25 position for value in nursing this year. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. In-state tuition and fees average $13,168, compared with $43,404 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $18,750. Early-career nursing graduates make about $115,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Nursing Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s nursing value ranking:
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 · 2207 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 454 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/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong nursing education at a price that pays off.
