[Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong nursing education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 543 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value nursing schools.
Southern Regional Technical College earned the #1 spot for value among nursing schools in the Southeast Region. Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Thomasville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,007, while out-of-state students pay about $5,575. Nursing graduates carry a median of $10,531 in student loans. Nursing graduates of Southern Regional Technical College earn a median of $69,971 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in nursing will find it at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, which ranked #2. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Valdosta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,480, compared with $6,048 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Wiregrass Georgia Technical College generally make around $69,235. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Petersburg College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. St Petersburg College is a very large public school located in the city of St. Petersburg. Students from in state pay about $2,682 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Nursing graduates carry a median of $22,681 in student loans. Nursing graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $74,004 early in their careers. Set against $22,681 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in nursing will find it at Chattahoochee Technical College, which ranked #4. Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Marietta. Students from in state pay about $3,540 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,108. Students borrow a median of $9,616 to complete the nursing program here. Nursing graduates of Chattahoochee Technical College earn a median of $86,454 early in their careers. Set against $9,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Cleveland Community College one of the best values for nursing. Located in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,602, while out-of-state students pay about $8,746. Students borrow a median of $7,131 to complete the nursing program here. Nursing graduates of Cleveland Community College earn a median of $73,173 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fayetteville Technical Community College came in at #6 for value in nursing this year. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,628, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $14,937. Nursing graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $72,523 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Piedmont Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing schools. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,792, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Students borrow a median of $16,125 to complete the nursing program here. Nursing graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $73,310 early in their careers. Set against $16,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indian River State College earned the #8 position for value in nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,764, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Nursing graduates carry a median of $14,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $71,280. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hillsborough Community College placed #9 among the best values for nursing. Set in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,491, with out-of-state students paying around $9,088. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $17,063. Early-career nursing graduates make about $64,429. Set against $17,063 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Florida State College came in at #10 for value in nursing this year. South Florida State College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Avon Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,165, while out-of-state students pay about $11,859. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the nursing program here. Nursing graduates of South Florida State College earn a median of $65,691 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
Sampson Community College earned the #11 position for value in nursing this year. Set in the town of Clinton, Sampson Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,877, with out-of-state students paying around $9,789. Students borrow a median of $12,596 to complete the nursing program here. Early-career nursing graduates make about $69,040. Set against $12,596 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Georgia Technical College earned the #12 position for value in nursing this year. North Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Clarkesville. In-state tuition and fees average $3,330, while out-of-state students pay about $5,898. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the nursing program here. Early-career nursing graduates make about $66,960. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Georgia Technical College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing schools. Located in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,410, while out-of-state students pay about $5,978. Students borrow a median of $19,833 to complete the nursing program here. Nursing graduates of West Georgia Technical College earn a median of $83,943 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Durham Technical Community College came in at #14 for value in nursing this year. Set in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,240 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,531. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $21,448. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Durham Technical Community College generally make around $66,430. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Craven Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing schools. Set in the town of New Bern, Craven Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,022, compared with $6,630 for out-of-state students. Nursing graduates carry a median of $10,349 in student loans. Early-career nursing graduates make about $63,478. Set against $10,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Johnston Community College earned the #16 position for value in nursing this year. Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Smithfield. Students from in state pay about $2,756 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,900 for out-of-state students. Nursing graduates carry a median of $13,167 in student loans. Nursing graduates of Johnston Community College earn a median of $74,366 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,167 median debt.
James Sprunt Community College earned the #17 position for value in nursing this year. James Sprunt Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Kenansville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,592, with out-of-state students paying around $8,736. Students borrow a median of $11,278 to complete the nursing program here. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from James Sprunt Community College generally make around $65,112. That is a strong return on a $11,278 median debt.
Spartanburg Community College landed the #18 spot for nursing value this year. Located in the suburb of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,071, while out-of-state students pay about $10,135. Nursing graduates carry a median of $12,894 in student loans. Nursing graduates of Spartanburg Community College earn a median of $70,419 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,894 median debt.
Florida State College At Jacksonville earned the #19 position for value in nursing this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $18,278. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $69,731. That is a strong return on a $18,278 median debt.
Miami Dade College earned the #20 position for value in nursing this year. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. Students from in state pay about $2,838 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Nursing graduates carry a median of $13,220 in student loans. Nursing graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $77,383 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Robeson Community College landed the #21 spot for nursing value this year. Set in the town of Lumberton, Robeson Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,604, with out-of-state students paying around $8,748. Nursing graduates carry a median of $9,949 in student loans. Nursing graduates of Robeson Community College earn a median of $77,475 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Coastal Pines Technical College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value nursing schools. Coastal Pines Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Waycross. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,268, with out-of-state students paying around $5,836. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $5,812. Nursing graduates of Coastal Pines Technical College earn a median of $39,090 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Piedmont Community College placed #23 among the best values for nursing. Piedmont Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Roxboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,556, while out-of-state students pay about $8,700. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $11,000. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Piedmont Community College generally make around $68,517. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Vance Granville Community College landed the #24 spot for nursing value this year. Located in the town of Henderson, Vance Granville Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,944, while out-of-state students pay about $6,552. Students borrow a median of $14,833 to complete the nursing program here. Nursing graduates of Vance Granville Community College earn a median of $72,520 early in their careers. Set against $14,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trident Technical College earned the #25 position for value in nursing this year. Located in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,546, compared with $8,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $30,938. Nursing graduates of Trident Technical College earn a median of $67,607 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,938 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Nursing Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in nursing:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 543 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 543 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/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong nursing education at a price that pays off.
