2026 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Oregon
[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 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for registered nursing students.
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2026 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in Oregon
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the registered nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Registered Nursing Schools
Mt Hood Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value registered nursing schools in Oregon. Located in the suburb of Gresham, Mt Hood Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,247, while out-of-state students pay about $9,819. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $30,031 in student loans. Registered Nursing graduates of Mt Hood Community College earn a median of $89,499 early in their careers. Set against $30,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Lane Community College one of the best values for registered nursing. Set in the suburb of Eugene, Lane Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,202, while out-of-state students pay about $13,078. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $23,165 in student loans. Registered Nursing graduates of Lane Community College earn a median of $89,567 early in their careers. Set against $23,165 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Treasure Valley Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value registered nursing schools. Set in the town of Ontario, Treasure Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,345, while out-of-state students pay about $6,795. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $37,000 in student loans. Registered Nursing graduates of Treasure Valley Community College earn a median of $70,211 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $37,000 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Clackamas Community College earned it the #4 place for registered nursing. Set in the suburb of Oregon City, Clackamas Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,345, compared with $14,265 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,915 to complete the registered nursing program here. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $31,280. Set against $13,915 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chemeketa Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value registered nursing schools. Chemeketa Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Salem. In-state tuition and fees average $6,345, with out-of-state students paying around $14,040. Students borrow a median of $24,018 to complete the registered nursing program here. Registered Nursing graduates of Chemeketa Community College earn a median of $79,890 early in their careers. Set against $24,018 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rogue Community College landed the #6 spot for registered nursing value this year. Set in the suburb of Grants Pass, Rogue Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,256 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,300 for out-of-state students. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $20,950 in student loans. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $90,235. Set against $20,950 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Klamath Community College earned the #7 position for value in registered nursing this year. Klamath Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Klamath Falls. Students from in state pay about $4,965 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,025 for out-of-state students. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $14,644 in student loans. Registered Nursing graduates of Klamath Community College earn a median of $24,370 early in their careers. Set against $14,644 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Oregon Community College earned the #8 position for value in registered nursing this year. Southwestern Oregon Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Coos Bay. Students from in state pay about $7,192 in tuition and fees. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $19,435 in student loans. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $75,458. That is a strong return on a $19,435 median debt.
Portland Community College placed #9 among the best values for registered nursing. Portland Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. Students from in state pay about $5,220 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,440. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $32,000. Registered Nursing graduates of Portland Community College earn a median of $78,033 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Umpqua Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value registered nursing schools. Set in the town of Roseburg, Umpqua Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,104 in tuition and fees. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Umpqua Community College generally make around $88,854. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbia Gorge Community College placed #11 among the best values for registered nursing. Located in the town of The Dalles, Columbia Gorge Community College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,940, while out-of-state students pay about $10,260. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $22,417 in student loans. Registered Nursing graduates of Columbia Gorge Community College earn a median of $78,167 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,417 median debt.
Central Oregon Community College earned the #12 position for value in registered nursing this year. Central Oregon Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bend. Students from in state pay about $5,683 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,246 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,833 to complete the registered nursing program here. Registered Nursing graduates of Central Oregon Community College earn a median of $82,582 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,833 median debt.
Linn Benton Community College came in at #13 for value in registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Albany, Linn Benton Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,317, while out-of-state students pay about $16,736. Students borrow a median of $20,854 to complete the registered nursing program here. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $84,912. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Blue Mountain Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value registered nursing schools. Set in the town of Pendleton, Blue Mountain Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,076, compared with $9,754 for out-of-state students. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $25,221 in student loans. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $25,872. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Clatsop Community College earned the #15 position for value in registered nursing this year. Located in the town of Astoria, Clatsop Community College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,110, while out-of-state students pay about $9,610. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $15,000. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $23,808. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Warner Pacific College earned the #16 position for value in registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Portland, Warner Pacific College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $22,220 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $41,254. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Warner Pacific College generally make around $51,176. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Warner Pacific College admits about 71% of applicants.
Northwest Christian University came in at #17 for value in registered nursing this year. Northwest Christian University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Eugene. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,800. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $28,704 in student loans. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Northwest Christian University generally make around $102,985. Set against $28,704 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Linfield College came in at #18 for value in registered nursing this year. Linfield College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of McMinnville. Students from in state pay about $51,736 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the registered nursing program here. Registered Nursing graduates of Linfield College earn a median of $95,604 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Sumner College earned the #19 position for value in registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Portland, Sumner College is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $35,404 to complete the registered nursing program here. Registered Nursing graduates of Sumner College earn a median of $85,561 early in their careers. Set against $35,404 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
George Fox University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value registered nursing schools. George Fox University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Newberg. In-state tuition and fees average $41,320. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the registered nursing program here. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $89,201. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Portland landed the #21 spot for registered nursing value this year. Located in the city of Portland, University Of Portland is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,100. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $28,750. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from University Of Portland generally make around $94,291. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
