by our College Data Analytics Team
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for nursing students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Mitchell Technical Institute the best value for a degree in nursing in South Dakota. Located in the town of Mitchell, Mitchell Technical Institute is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $7,524 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $12,730. Early-career nursing graduates make about $47,686. Set against $12,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Oglala Lakota College one of the best values for nursing. Set in the rural area of Kyle, Oglala Lakota College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,684. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $22,517.
Western Dakota Technical Institute came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing schools. Located in the city of Rapid City, Western Dakota Technical Institute is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,294. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $15,620. Early-career nursing graduates make about $37,839. Set against $15,620 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lake Area Technical Institute earned it the #4 place for nursing. Located in the town of Watertown, Lake Area Technical Institute is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,718 in tuition and fees. Nursing graduates carry a median of $26,212 in student loans. Nursing graduates of Lake Area Technical Institute earn a median of $66,233 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 Southeast Technical Institute, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Sioux Falls, Southeast Technical Institute is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,650 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $28,239. Early-career nursing graduates make about $62,601. Set against $28,239 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Dakota State University placed #6 among the best values for nursing. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Nursing graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Early-career nursing graduates make about $99,864. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
University Of South Dakota ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing schools. University Of South Dakota is a large public school located in the town of Vermillion. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,432, while out-of-state students pay about $12,942. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $32,298. Early-career nursing graduates make about $71,758. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Dakota admits about 99% of applicants.
Dakota Wesleyan University earned the #8 position for value in nursing this year. Set in the town of Mitchell, Dakota Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,790. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $31,000. Nursing graduates of Dakota Wesleyan University earn a median of $67,981 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
University Of Sioux Falls came in at #9 for value in nursing this year. Located in the city of Sioux Falls, University Of Sioux Falls is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,750. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $31,000. Nursing graduates of University Of Sioux Falls earn a median of $70,622 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Mount Marty College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing schools. Set in the town of Yankton, Mount Marty College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,600. Nursing graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Mount Marty College generally make around $152,247. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
Augustana College South Dakota landed the #11 spot for nursing value this year. Augustana College South Dakota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,160. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Augustana College South Dakota generally make around $72,237. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
This list is compiled 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.