2023 Best Value Nursing Schools
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
It's not easy to decide which nursing program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Nursing Degree Search has created the Best Value Nursing Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 1,633 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value programs for nursing students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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Top Value Nursing Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named La Salle University the best value school in the United States for nursing students working on their degree. La Salle is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 217 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at La Salle are $33,150 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,877 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $410. During the early years of their career, La Salle graduates make an average of $49,822 annually.
Out of the 1,633 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, New Mexico Junior College landed the # 2 spot on the list. This small public school is located in Hobbs, New Mexico, and it awarded 33 degrees in 2020-2021.
New Mexico Junior College undergraduate students pay an average of $2,280 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,285 in student loans.After graduating from New Mexico Junior College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,137 during the early years of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Aspen University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools list. Aspen University is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in Denver, Arizona. It awarded 1,910 degrees in 2020-2021.
Aspen University undergraduate students pay an average of $5,170 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $36,338 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Aspen University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $83,891 during the early year of their career.
Aspen University also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing Schools list. It’s in the top 1% of all schools in this category.
Out of the 1,633 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Coahoma Community College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the small public school handed out 38 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Coahoma Community College are $3,003 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $12,989 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Coahoma Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,255 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Clovis Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools list. Clovis Community College is a public institution located in Clovis, New Mexico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 126 degrees in 2020-2021.
Clovis Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $2,984 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $13,362 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Clovis Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,236 during the early years of their career.
Oglala Lakota College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools ranking. Kyle, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Oglala Lakota College are $2,684 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $9,450 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Oglala Lakota College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,569 during the early years of their career.
Southeast Community College Area came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools ranking. Southeast Community College is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 159 degrees to qualified students.
Southeast Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,780 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $17,221 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $150 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Southeast Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,034 during the early years of their career.
Cloud County Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. This small public school is located in Concordia, Kansas, and it awarded 124 degrees in 2020-2021.
Cloud County Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $3,570 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $16,410 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Cloud County Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,806 during the early year of their career.
Neosho County Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools ranking. Neosho County Community College is a public institution located in Chanute, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 296 degrees in 2020-2021.
Neosho County Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,000 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,224 in student loans.After graduating from Neosho County Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,250 during the early years of their career.
Seattle Central College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #10 on the list. Seattle Central College is a small public school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 145 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Seattle Central are $4,670 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,549 in student loans.After graduating from Seattle Central, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $56,258 during the early years of their career.
Highline College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list. Highline College is a small public school located in Des Moines, Washington that handed out 142 degrees in 2020-2021.
Highline undergraduate students pay an average of $4,813 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,827 in student loans.After graduating from Highline, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $47,918 during the early years of their career.
In addition to its great value ranking, Highline is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Nursing Schools list.
Central Arizona College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools ranking. Central Arizona College is a small public school located in Coolidge, Arizona that handed out 53 degrees in 2020-2021.
Pinal County Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,160 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $16,406 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Pinal County Community College graduates make an average of $35,004 annually.
In addition to its great value ranking, Pinal County Community College is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Nursing Schools list.
Panola College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools list. Carthage, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 67 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Panola College are $4,680 a year. Once they receive their degree, Panola College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,120 during the early year of their career.
South Louisiana Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools list. Located in Lafayette, Louisiana, the medium-sized public school awarded 170 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at South Louisiana Community College are $4,205 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $13,941 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, South Louisiana Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,203 during the early year of their career.
Arkansas State University - Newport landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in Newport, Arkansas, the small public school handed out 327 degrees in 2020-2021.
ASUN undergraduate students pay an average of $4,320 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,164 in student loans.After graduating from ASUN, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $32,182 during the early years of their career.
Amarillo College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools list. This medium-sized public school is located in Amarillo, Texas, and it awarded 262 degrees in 2020-2021.
Amarillo College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,704 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $17,791 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Amarillo College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,621 during the early year of their career.
College of the Mainland ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools list. This small public school is located in Texas City, Texas, and it awarded 94 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at COM are $3,873 a year. On average, students take out $14,935 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, COM graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,291 during the early year of their career.
Hutchinson Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools ranking. Hutchinson Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Hutchinson, Kansas that handed out 368 degrees in 2020-2021.
Hutchinson Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,470 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $18,967 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Hutchinson Community College graduates make an average of $38,555 annually.
Wayne County Community College District did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #19 on the list. WCCCD is a fairly large public school situated in Detroit, Michigan. It awarded 81 degrees in 2020-2021.
WCCCD undergraduate students pay an average of $3,998 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $23,369 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, WCCCD graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,660 during the early year of their career.
United States University landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in San Diego, California, the small private for-profit school handed out 451 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at USU are $5,700 per year. During the early years of their career, USU graduates make an average of $85,412 annually.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, USU also is in the top 10% of our Best Nursing Schools ranking.
Central Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in Grand Island, Nebraska, the medium-sized public school awarded 125 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Central Community College are $4,590 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $10,096 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Central Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,791 during the early years of their career.
Madison Area Technical College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools ranking. Madison College is a fairly large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 693 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Madison College are $6,769 a year. On average, students take out $19,738 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Madison College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,202 during the early year of their career.
In addition to its great value ranking, Madison College is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Nursing Schools list.
Western Iowa Tech Community College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools list. Western Iowa Tech Community College is located in Sioux City, Iowa and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 499 degrees to qualified students.
Western Iowa Tech Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,826 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $14,142 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates make an average of $31,155 annually.
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for nursing students. It came in at #24 on the list. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the very small public school awarded 57 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UWM Flexible Option are $6,750 per year. On average, students take out $26,221 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $224. Once they receive their degree, UWM Flexible Option graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,102 during the early year of their career.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, UWM Flexible Option also did well on our Best Nursing Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
South Plains College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools ranking. South Plains College is located in Levelland, Texas and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 133 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at South Plains College are $4,276 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,786 in student loans.After graduating from South Plains College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $32,859 during the early years of their career.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Nursing Schools in the United States
Not only did these schools make the list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Narrow Schools by Region
Rest of the Top Value Nursing Schools in the United States
To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best nursing schools ranking:
More Nationwide Rankings
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
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%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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