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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Registered Nursing (Income $0-$30k)

227 Ranked Colleges
18,126 Degrees Awarded
$28,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master's For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Registered Nursing is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 3rd of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 259,493 degrees were awarded to students with this major.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 18,126 registered nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 227 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in registered nursing. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great registered nursing programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the registered nursing program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree registered nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Registered Nursing (Income $0-$30k)

#1

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Yale University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Yale is located in New Haven, Connecticut and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 116 masters’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

Yale did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Yale are $44,500, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Yale

#2

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 227 schools in the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Johns Hopkins University landed the #2 spot on the list. Johns Hopkins University is located in Baltimore, Maryland and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 264 masters’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

Johns Hopkins also made our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #1. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins are $59,425.

Full Johns Hopkins Registered Nursing Report

#3

Georgetown University

Washington, District of Columbia
#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Georgetown University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Georgetown University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Washington, District of Columbia. It awarded 291 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree registered nursing students whose families make $0-$30k list, Georgetown has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgetown are $53,591, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Georgetown University Registered Nursing Report

Top 15% in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Florida International University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. FIU is a large school located in Miami, Florida that handed out 38 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

FIU excels when it comes to registered nursing quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Florida International University are $24,211.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at FIU

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cal State LA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 78 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Cal State LA

#2 in overall quality

Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Columbia University in the City of New York is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 277 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia are $51,194, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Columbia University in the City of New York

California State University - Stanislaus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Turlock, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s registered nursing degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Stanislaus are $18,540.

Full Stan State Registered Nursing Report

California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Carson, California, this fairly large public school handed out 61 degrees to qualified masters’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Dominguez Hills are $17,884, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at California State University - Dominguez Hills

California State University - Fullerton came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. California State University - Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 68 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Cal State Fullerton

#21 in overall quality

University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a public institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle also took the #21 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

Top 20% in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of South Florida - Main Campus is a large school located in Tampa, Florida that handed out 251 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

USF Tampa excels when it comes to registered nursing quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at USF Tampa are $21,126, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Registered Nursing at USF Tampa

California State University - Fresno landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Fresno State is a large school located in Fresno, California that handed out 23 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fresno are $17,581, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - Fresno Registered Nursing Report

#13

The University of West Florida

Pensacola, Florida

The University of West Florida landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. The University of West Florida is a fairly large public school situated in Pensacola, Florida. It awarded 49 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of West Florida are $24,894, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Registered Nursing at UWF

#14

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida

University of Central Florida came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it awarded 92 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCF are $28,657.

Read more about Registered Nursing at University of Central Florida

Top 25% in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - Long Beach is located in Long Beach, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 116 masters’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full CSULB Registered Nursing Report

California State University - Bakersfield came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Bakersfield, California, and it awarded 19 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Bakersfield are $18,437, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at CSUB

#17

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
Top 15% in overall quality

Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s registered nursing degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Purdue also did well on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue are $28,794.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Registered Nursing Report

Top 15% in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Ohio State is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 251 masters’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Ohio State is also in the top of our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Ohio State

#19

Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers, Florida

Florida Gulf Coast University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. FGCU is a public institution located in Fort Myers, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 18 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at FGCU are $31,216, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Florida Gulf Coast University

Indiana University - Northwest came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana University - Northwest is a small public school situated in Gary, Indiana. It awarded 12 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Northwest are $18,275, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Indiana University - Northwest

#21

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Michigan State University is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 51 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Michigan State University

#22

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky

Northern Kentucky University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. NKU is a fairly large school located in Highland Heights, Kentucky that handed out 108 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NKU are $17,358.

Full NKU Registered Nursing Report

#23

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts
#17 in overall quality

Northeastern University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 91 diplomas to qualified masters’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northeastern, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern University are $25,558, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Northeastern University

#24

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. San Diego State University is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 35 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at San Diego State University

#25

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
Top 15% in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 62 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities also claimed a top spot on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Rest of the Best 35 in Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

Not only did these schools make the top 35 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California
#29

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana
#31

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#32

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, Florida
#33

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina
#34

University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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