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2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s

218 Ranked Colleges
18,126 Degrees Awarded
$14,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master's

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

With 259,493 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, registered nursing is the 3rd most popular major in the United States.

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” ranking looked at 218 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the registered nursing program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The registered nursing school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Registered Nursing

#1

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, Arizona
Top 15% in overall quality

Out of the 218 schools in the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Grand Canyon University landed the #1 spot on the list. Phoenix, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out masters’s registered nursing degrees to 555 students in 2019-2020.

Grand Canyon University also claimed a top spot on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Grand Canyon University are $11,436, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Grand Canyon University Registered Nursing Report

#2

Walden University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
Top 20% in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Walden University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s. Walden University is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4,106 masters’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on this list, Walden University is in the top on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at Walden University are $10,716, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Walden University

#3

Capella University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
Top 25% in overall quality

Out of the 218 schools in the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Capella University landed the #3 spot on the list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out masters’s registered nursing degrees to 52 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Capella University are $14,767, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Capella University

#23 in overall quality

Out of the 218 schools in the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Chamberlain University - Illinois landed the #4 spot on the list. Chamberlain University - Illinois is a large school located in Addison, Illinois that handed out 1,229 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Chamberlain - Illinois also made our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #23. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chamberlain University - Illinois are $14,090, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Chamberlain University - Illinois Registered Nursing Report

#5

Nebraska Wesleyan University

Lincoln, Nebraska

Out of the 218 schools in the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Nebraska Wesleyan University landed the #5 spot on the list. NWU is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 masters’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Nebraska Wesleyan University are $5,186, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Registered Nursing at NWU

#6

Denver College of Nursing

Denver, Colorado

Denver College of Nursing ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s list. Located in Denver, Colorado, this small private for-profit school handed out 19 degrees to qualified masters’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Denver College of Nursing are $1,806, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Denver College of Nursing

#7

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, California

Point Loma Nazarene University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s ranking. PLNU is a small school located in San Diego, California that handed out 22 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at PLNU are $11,880, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at PLNU

#8

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
Top 15% in overall quality

University of North Dakota came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s ranking. This fairly large school is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and it awarded 90 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, UND is in the top on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at UND are $18,326, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Registered Nursing at University of North Dakota

#9

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

Illinois State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #9. Illinois State University is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 29 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State University are $11,069, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Illinois State University Registered Nursing Report

#10

University of South Alabama

Mobile, Alabama
Top 25% in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, University of South Alabama did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s list. Located in Mobile, Alabama, this fairly large public school awarded 666 diplomas to qualified masters’s registered nursing students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of South Alabama are $16,112, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Registered Nursing at USA

#11

Gardner - Webb University

Boiling Springs, North Carolina

Gardner - Webb University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s ranking. Gardner - Webb University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 29 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 Gardner - Webb are $9,050.

Full Gardner - Webb University Registered Nursing Report

Arkansas State University - Main Campus landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s ranking. A-State is located in Jonesboro, Arkansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 71 masters’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Arkansas State University - Main Campus are $11,586.

Full A-State Registered Nursing Report

#13

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California
Top 25% in overall quality

Azusa Pacific University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Azusa, California, and it awarded 189 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Azusa Pacific University are $16,571, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Azusa Pacific University

#14

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
Top 25% in overall quality

South Dakota State University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s ranking. South Dakota State is a public institution located in Brookings, South Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 45 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at South Dakota State University are $16,743, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full South Dakota State University Registered Nursing Report

#15

Marquette University

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#8 in overall quality

Marquette University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s ranking. This fairly large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 220 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Marquette not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Marquette are $21,690, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Marquette

#16

Gonzaga University

Spokane, Washington
#24 in overall quality

Gonzaga University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #16. Gonzaga University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Spokane, Washington. It awarded 121 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Gonzaga not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Gonzaga University are $17,675, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Gonzaga

#17

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois

University of St Francis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #17. University of St Francis is a small school located in Joliet, Illinois that handed out 60 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Saint Francis are $13,839, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at University of St Francis

#18

The College of New Jersey

Ewing, New Jersey
Top 20% in overall quality

The College of New Jersey did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #18. TCNJ is a medium-sized school located in Ewing, New Jersey that handed out 16 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, TCNJ also did well on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% 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 The College of New Jersey are $15,883.

Read more about Registered Nursing at The College of New Jersey

#19

Simmons University

Boston, Massachusetts
#11 in overall quality

Simmons University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 44 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree registered nursing students list, Simmons has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Simmons University are $21,698, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Simmons University

#20

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#14 in overall quality

Saint Louis University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s list. Saint Louis University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 92 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

SLU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Louis University are $22,074, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Registered Nursing at SLU

With a ranking of #21, Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s list. Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing is a private not-for-profit institution located in Peoria, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 41 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 Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing are $8,730.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing

#22

Fairfield University

Fairfield, Connecticut
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, Fairfield University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s list. This medium-sized school is located in Fairfield, Connecticut, and it awarded 5 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Fairfield U also took the #15 spot in our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Fairfield University are $19,267, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Fairfield University Registered Nursing Report

Top 15% in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, University of Alabama at Birmingham did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s list. This large school is located in Birmingham, Alabama, and it awarded 617 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UAB is also in the top of our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. 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 UAB are $19,188.

Read more about Registered Nursing at University of Alabama at Birmingham

#24

Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#13 in overall quality

Thomas Jefferson University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s ranking. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s registered nursing degrees to 203 students in 2019-2020.

Thomas Jefferson University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Registered Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Thomas Jefferson University are $21,978, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Thomas Jefferson University Registered Nursing Report

#25

Research College of Nursing

Kansas City, Missouri

Research College of Nursing landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s ranking. This small school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 34 masters’s registered nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Research College of Nursing are $10,520, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Research College of Nursing Registered Nursing Report

Rest of the Best 33 in Best Value Registered Nursing Schools for a Master’s

Not only did these schools make the top 33 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana
#30

Holy Family University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#31

Villanova University

Villanova, Pennsylvania
#32

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina
#33

West Texas A&M University

Canyon, Texas

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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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