[Registered Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/registered-nursing/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1000 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for registered nursing students.
Cuny Hunter College tops our 2027 list of the best value registered nursing schools in the United States. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $16,944 in student loans. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $103,692. That is a strong return on a $16,944 median debt. The acceptance rate is 54%.
A rank of #2 makes California State University Los Angeles one of the best values for registered nursing. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,164, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $18,964 in student loans. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $98,811. That is a strong return on a $18,964 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Students looking for strong value in registered nursing will find it at California State University San Bernardino, which ranked #3. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,088, with out-of-state students paying around $20,688. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $18,116. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from California State University San Bernardino generally make around $93,142. That is a strong return on a $18,116 median debt. California State University San Bernardino admits about 94% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Lehman College earned it the #4 place for registered nursing. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,360. Students borrow a median of $20,055 to complete the registered nursing program here. Registered Nursing graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of $101,531 early in their careers. Set against $20,055 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Texas A And M University Central Texas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in registered nursing, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Killeen, Texas A And M University Central Texas is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,363, compared with $17,155 for out-of-state students. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $22,750 in student loans. Registered Nursing graduates of Texas A And M University Central Texas earn a median of $88,036 early in their careers. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
St Petersburg College earned the #6 position for value in registered nursing this year. St Petersburg College is a very large public school located in the city of St. Petersburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,682, compared with $9,286 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,261 to complete the registered nursing program here. Registered Nursing graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $80,787 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,261 median debt.
Texas A And M International University came in at #7 for value in registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,894 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,454 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete the registered nursing program here. Registered Nursing graduates of Texas A And M International University earn a median of $75,009 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt. Texas A And M International University admits about 44% of applicants.
Indian River State College came in at #8 for value in registered nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,764, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $19,000. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $81,648. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt.
Miami Dade College landed the #9 spot for registered nursing value this year. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,838, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete the registered nursing program here. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $90,158. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Stanislaus landed the #10 spot for registered nursing value this year. California State University Stanislaus is a large public school located in the suburb of Turlock. In-state tuition and fees average $8,242, while out-of-state students pay about $20,842. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $23,450 in student loans. Registered Nursing graduates of California State University Stanislaus earn a median of $119,356 early in their careers. Set against $23,450 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Stanislaus admits about 98% of applicants.
California State University Fullerton landed the #11 spot for registered nursing value this year. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,375 to complete the registered nursing program here. Registered Nursing graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $103,028 early in their careers. Set against $17,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Florida State College At Jacksonville landed the #12 spot for registered nursing value this year. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $18,855 in student loans. Registered Nursing graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $77,442 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,855 median debt.
South Florida State College landed the #13 spot for registered nursing value this year. Located in the suburb of Avon Park, South Florida State College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,165, while out-of-state students pay about $11,859. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $10,500. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from South Florida State College generally make around $65,691. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
California State University Bakersfield landed the #14 spot for registered nursing value this year. California State University Bakersfield is a large public school located in the city of Bakersfield. In-state tuition and fees average $8,087, while out-of-state students pay about $20,687. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,009 ten years after entry. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas Pan American earned the #15 position for value in registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,799, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Students borrow a median of $11,674 to complete the registered nursing program here. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $77,619. Set against $11,674 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Northridge ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value registered nursing schools. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,458, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $20,000. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $106,780. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny York College placed #17 among the best values for registered nursing. Cuny York College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Jamaica. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,358, compared with $15,308 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,125 to complete the registered nursing program here. Registered Nursing graduates of Cuny York College earn a median of $113,718 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,125 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology came in at #18 for value in registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,332, with out-of-state students paying around $15,282. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $11,800 in student loans. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $103,611. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Florida Online came in at #19 for value in registered nursing this year. University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students from in state pay about $3,876 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,579. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $19,934 in student loans. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from University Of Florida Online generally make around $73,711. That is a strong return on a $19,934 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Florida placed #20 among the best values for registered nursing. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Students borrow a median of $19,934 to complete the registered nursing program here. Registered Nursing graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $73,711 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
College Of The Mainland placed #21 among the best values for registered nursing. Located in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,310 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $74,310. Set against $18,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pensacola State College landed the #22 spot for registered nursing value this year. Set in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,361 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,463 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $10,617. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $77,185. Set against $10,617 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hillsborough Community College earned the #23 position for value in registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,491, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $17,063. Registered Nursing graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $64,429 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,063 median debt.
El Centro College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Students borrow a median of $17,187 to complete the registered nursing program here. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $70,630. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Fresno came in at #25 for value in registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,341, compared with $19,941 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $17,938. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $96,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in registered nursing:
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 · 1000 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1,000 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).
[Registered Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/registered-nursing/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
