2027 Best Value School Nursing Schools
[School Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/school-nursing/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 48 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value school nursing schools.
What’s on this page:
Finding the Best Value School Nursing School for You
The school nursing program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we developed our Best Value School Nursing Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Read more about our methodology
One Size Does Not Fit All
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value School Nursing Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
See how we build our rankings
2027 Best Value School Nursing Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in school nursing, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value School Nursing Schools
Leading the list is Cuny Lehman College, our #1 best value for school nursing in the United States. Cuny Lehman College is a large public school located in the city of Bronx. In-state tuition and fees average $7,410, with out-of-state students paying around $15,360. Students borrow a median of $20,055 to complete the school nursing program here. Soon after graduation, school nursing degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $54,729. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Florida International University one of the best values for school nursing. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Typical student debt for school nursing graduates is $18,895. Soon after graduation, school nursing degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $96,525. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a great value for students pursuing a degree in school nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. School Nursing graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, school nursing degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value school nursing schools. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Students borrow a median of $28,408 to complete the school nursing program here. Soon after graduation, school nursing degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $89,364. Set against $28,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Wayne State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in school nursing, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. School Nursing graduates carry a median of $30,165 in student loans. Soon after graduation, school nursing degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $103,835. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Youngstown State University landed the #6 spot for school nursing value this year. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,926, while out-of-state students pay about $10,286. Typical student debt for school nursing graduates is $27,000. School Nursing graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $49,025 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Youngstown State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Arizona State University came in at #7 for value in school nursing this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the school nursing program here. School Nursing graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $55,876 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Vanderbilt University came in at #8 for value in school nursing this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the school nursing program here. Early-career school nursing graduates make about $125,565. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Kansas City landed the #9 spot for school nursing value this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. School Nursing graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, school nursing degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $107,719. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nevada Reno ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value school nursing schools. University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public school located in the city of Reno. In-state tuition and fees average $9,578, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for school nursing graduates is $20,813. School Nursing graduates of University Of Nevada Reno earn a median of $50,691 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,813 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Tennessee Technological University came in at #11 for value in school nursing this year. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,376, compared with $15,576 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for school nursing graduates is $18,349. Early-career school nursing graduates make about $46,981. That is a strong return on a $18,349 median debt. Tennessee Technological University admits about 76% of applicants.
Stony Brook University earned the #12 position for value in school nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,931, with out-of-state students paying around $32,741. Typical student debt for school nursing graduates is $23,000. Early-career school nursing graduates make about $117,350. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 49%.
University Of Arizona ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value school nursing schools. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. School Nursing graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career school nursing graduates make about $50,834. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
Wright State University Main Campus came in at #14 for value in school nursing this year. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, with out-of-state students paying around $20,691. Typical student debt for school nursing graduates is $25,987. Early-career school nursing graduates make about $49,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Georgia State University earned the #15 position for value in school nursing this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,664, with out-of-state students paying around $24,840. School Nursing graduates carry a median of $28,215 in student loans. Soon after graduation, school nursing degree recipients from Georgia State University generally make around $51,103. Set against $28,215 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
University Of Missouri St Louis landed the #16 spot for school nursing value this year. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,120, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. School Nursing graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career school nursing graduates make about $100,122. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
University Of Louisville came in at #17 for value in school nursing this year. University Of Louisville is a very large public school located in the city of Louisville. Students from in state pay about $13,136 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,482 for out-of-state students. School Nursing graduates carry a median of $23,205 in student loans. Soon after graduation, school nursing degree recipients from University Of Louisville generally make around $68,762. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee landed the #18 spot for school nursing value this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,812, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Typical student debt for school nursing graduates is $23,292. School Nursing graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $97,755 early in their careers. Set against $23,292 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University At Buffalo earned the #19 position for value in school nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,936, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Students borrow a median of $26,117 to complete the school nursing program here. Soon after graduation, school nursing degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $110,839. That is a strong return on a $26,117 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #20 position for value in school nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for school nursing graduates is $15,130. School Nursing graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $69,126 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,130 median debt. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Kent State University At Kent placed #21 among the best values for school nursing. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,625 to complete the school nursing program here. School Nursing graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $44,776 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Spring Arbor University came in at #22 for value in school nursing this year. Located in the rural area of Spring Arbor, Spring Arbor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,014. Typical student debt for school nursing graduates is $29,748. School Nursing graduates of Spring Arbor University earn a median of $89,684 early in their careers. Set against $29,748 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis placed #23 among the best values for school nursing. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $27,166. School Nursing graduates carry a median of $29,881 in student loans. School Nursing graduates of Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn a median of $103,656 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Iowa landed the #24 spot for school nursing value this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. School Nursing graduates carry a median of $24,811 in student loans. School Nursing graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $96,368 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,811 median debt. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
Emory University earned the #25 position for value in school nursing this year. Emory University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Atlanta. In-state tuition and fees average $64,280. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the school nursing program here. School Nursing graduates of Emory University earn a median of $98,673 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 48 Best Value School Nursing Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in school nursing:
Narrow School Nursing Schools by Region
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Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to School Nursing. See all related rankings.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 48 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 48 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.
