2026 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in District of Columbia

[Registered Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/registered-nursing/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value registered nursing schools.
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2026 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in District of Columbia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in registered nursing, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Registered Nursing Schools
Trinity Washington University tops our 2026 list of the best value registered nursing schools in District of Columbia. Trinity Washington University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,610. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Registered Nursing graduates of Trinity Washington University earn a median of $79,349 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Students looking for strong value in registered nursing will find it at Catholic University Of America, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,378. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $27,000. Registered Nursing graduates of Catholic University Of America earn a median of $108,768 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes George Washington University one of the best values for registered nursing. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. In-state tuition and fees average $67,710. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Registered Nursing graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $107,851 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. George Washington University admits about 47% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in registered nursing will find it at Georgetown University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,089. Typical student debt for registered nursing graduates is $17,417. Registered Nursing graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $131,652 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,417 median debt. Roughly 13% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Saint Michael College Of Allied Health one of the best values for registered nursing. Saint Michael College Of Allied Health is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,405. Registered Nursing graduates carry a median of $23,260 in student loans. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $74,782. Saint Michael College Of Allied Health admits about 75% of applicants.
Howard University came in at #6 for value in registered nursing this year. Howard University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,810. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the registered nursing program here. Early-career registered nursing graduates make about $79,646. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.