2026 Best Value School Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[School Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/school-nursing/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for school nursing students.
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2026 Best Value School Nursing Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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 Cuny Hunter College this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,382 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. School Nursing graduates carry a median of $16,944 in student loans. Early-career school nursing graduates make about $51,372. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
Cuny Lehman College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in school nursing, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,410, compared with $15,360 for out-of-state students. School Nursing graduates carry a median of $20,055 in student loans. Soon after graduation, school nursing degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $54,729. That is a strong return on a $20,055 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Stony Brook University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in school nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Typical student debt for school nursing graduates is $23,000. Soon after graduation, school nursing degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $117,350. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 49%.
Students looking for strong value in school nursing will find it at University At Buffalo, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,936, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Typical student debt for school nursing graduates is $26,117. Soon after graduation, school nursing degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $52,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rutgers University New Brunswick earned it the #5 place for school nursing. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,929, while out-of-state students pay about $37,441. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the school nursing program here. School Nursing graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $108,083 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rutgers University New Brunswick admits about 58% of applicants.
The College Of New Jersey placed #6 among the best values for school nursing. The College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Ewing. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,632, while out-of-state students pay about $25,752. Typical student debt for school nursing graduates is $26,204. Early-career school nursing graduates make about $56,617. Set against $26,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Molloy College earned the #7 position for value in school nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Rockville Centre, Molloy College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,790. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the school nursing program here. Soon after graduation, school nursing degree recipients from Molloy College generally make around $137,197. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Molloy College admits about 82% of applicants.
Gwynedd Mercy College came in at #8 for value in school nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Gwynedd Valley, Gwynedd Mercy College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,838. School Nursing graduates carry a median of $35,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, school nursing degree recipients from Gwynedd Mercy College generally make around $82,372. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Seton Hall University came in at #9 for value in school nursing this year. Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Orange. Students from in state pay about $53,170 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for school nursing graduates is $27,000. Early-career school nursing graduates make about $101,486. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value school nursing schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. School Nursing graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, school nursing degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $98,377. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
University Of Rochester placed #11 among the best values for school nursing. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,080. School Nursing graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career school nursing graduates make about $89,788. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pennsylvania ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value school nursing schools. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $68,686. Typical student debt for school nursing graduates is $22,410. Soon after graduation, school nursing degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $137,262. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Catholic University Of America earned the #13 position for value in school nursing this year. Located in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,378. Typical student debt for school nursing graduates is $27,000. Early-career school nursing graduates make about $65,120. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
New York University earned the #14 position for value in school nursing this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Typical student debt for school nursing graduates is $25,500. School Nursing graduates of New York University earn a median of $138,833 early in their careers. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
