2026 Best Value School Nursing Schools in Ohio
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for school nursing students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value School Nursing Schools in Ohio
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in school nursing, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value School Nursing Schools
For return on investment in school nursing, no school beat Youngstown State University this year. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,926, compared with $10,286 for out-of-state students. 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. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in school nursing will find it at Wright State University Main Campus, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,991, with out-of-state students paying around $20,691. School Nursing graduates carry a median of $25,987 in student loans. Early-career school nursing graduates make about $49,077. Set against $25,987 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wright State University Main Campus admits about 96% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in school nursing will find it at University Of Toledo, which ranked #3. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,157, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. Students borrow a median of $22,400 to complete the school nursing program here. Soon after graduation, school nursing degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $76,736. That is a strong return on a $22,400 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Kent State University At Kent is a great value for students pursuing a degree in school nursing, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for school nursing graduates is $28,625. Soon after graduation, school nursing degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $83,999. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value school nursing schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,920 to complete the school nursing program here. Early-career school nursing graduates make about $109,491. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Cedarville University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value school nursing schools. Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Cedarville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,150. School Nursing graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. School Nursing graduates of Cedarville University earn a median of $86,430 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Xavier University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value school nursing schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $49,425. Typical student debt for school nursing graduates is $27,000. Early-career school nursing graduates make about $55,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Case Western Reserve University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value school nursing schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,608. Typical student debt for school nursing graduates is $26,580. School Nursing graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $112,484 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
More School Nursing Rankings
View All School Nursing Rankings >
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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
