2023 Best Value Nursing Schools
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Finding the Best Nursing School for You
In 2020-2021, 322,592 degrees and certificates were awarded to nursing students, making the major the most popular in the country.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which healthcare program is right for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Healthcare Degree Search has created its Best Value Nursing Schools ranking. This report analyzed 1,850 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. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Nursing
Our 2023 rankings named Sentara College of Health Sciences the best value school in the United States for nursing students. Located in the large suburb of Chesapeake, Sentara College of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
Sentara College of Health Sciences undergraduate students pay an average of $2,637 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at Sentara College of Health Sciences accumulate an average of around $27,686 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $155, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means La Salle University is a great value for nursing students. Located in the city of Philadelphia, La Salle is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at La Salle are $33,150 per year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at La Salle take out is $27,000. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $478, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The excellent programs at New Mexico Junior College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the United States. New Mexico Junior College is a small public school located in the town of Hobbs.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at New Mexico Junior College are $2,280 a year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at New Mexico Junior College accumulate an average of around $17,000 in student debt.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Aspen University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools list. Aspen University is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Denver.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Aspen University are $5,170 a year. After completing their degree, nursing graduates from Aspen University carry an average student debtload of $35,922.
Aspen University excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Nursing Schools list.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Coahoma Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Nursing Schools list. Located in the rural area of Clarksdale, Coahoma Community College is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Coahoma Community College are $3,003 per year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at Coahoma Community College accumulate an average of around $20,875 in student debt.
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With a ranking of #6, Graham Hospital School of Nursing did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. Graham Hospital School of Nursing is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the distant town of Canton.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Graham Hospital School of Nursing are $7,206 a year.
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Oglala Lakota College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools list. Oglala Lakota College is a small public school located in the remote area of Kyle.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Oglala Lakota College are $2,684 a year.
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Clovis Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools ranking. Clovis Community College is a small public school located in the remote town of Clovis.
Clovis Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $2,984 in tuition and fees each year. On average, nursing graduates from Clovis Community College take out $11,473 in student loans while working on their degree.
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With a ranking of #9, Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. L.A. County School of Nursing is a fairly small public school located in the large city of Los Angeles.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at L.A. County School of Nursing take out is $19,688.
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Southeast Community College Area ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools list. Located in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Southeast Community College are $3,780 per year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Southeast Community College take out is $28,750.
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Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school located in the distant town of Sandusky.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing are $6,992 a year. Nursing majors at Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing take out an average of $30,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Seattle Central College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools list. Seattle Central is a small public school located in the large city of Seattle.
Seattle Central undergraduate students pay an average of $4,670 in tuition and fees each year. Nursing majors at Seattle Central take out an average of $21,512 in student loans while working on their egree.
Seattle Central also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
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Highline College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Des Moines, Highline is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Highline are $4,813 per year. On average, nursing graduates from Highline take out $15,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
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With a ranking of #14, Central Arizona College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. Located in the rural area of Coolidge, Pinal County Community College is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Pinal County Community College are $5,160 a year. Nursing majors at Pinal County Community College take out an average of $15,679 in student loans while working on their egree.
Pinal County Community College also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
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With a ranking of #15, Panola College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. Located in the town of Carthage, Panola College is a public school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Panola College are $4,680 per year.
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Amarillo College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Amarillo College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Amarillo.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Amarillo College are $4,704 a year. Nursing majors at Amarillo College take out an average of $21,240 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Arkansas State University - Newport came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools ranking. Located in the rural area of Newport, ASUN is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at ASUN are $4,320 a year. The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at ASUN take out is $17,302.
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College of the Mainland did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #18 on the list. COM is a small public school located in the midsize suburb of Texas City.
COM undergraduate students pay an average of $3,873 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, nursing majors at COM accumulate an average of around $20,290 in student debt.
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Neosho County Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools ranking. Neosho County Community College is a small public school located in the remote town of Chanute.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Neosho County Community College are $4,000 per year. Nursing majors at Neosho County Community College take out an average of $17,450 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Cloud County Community College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools ranking. Located in the rural area of Concordia, Cloud County Community College is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Cloud County Community College are $3,570 a year. On average, nursing graduates from Cloud County Community College take out $23,397 in student loans while working on their degree.
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With a ranking of #21, SOWELA Technical Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. SOWELA is a small public school located in the small city of Lake Charles.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SOWELA are $4,265 per year.
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South Plains College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value nursing programs. Located in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at South Plains College are $4,276 a year. Nursing majors at South Plains College take out an average of $12,750 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Wayne County Community College District did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for nursing students. It came in at #23 on the list. WCCCD is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Detroit.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WCCCD are $3,998 per year. Nursing majors at WCCCD take out an average of $18,389 in student loans while working on their egree.
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With a ranking of #24, United States University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students. USU is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of San Diego.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at USU are $5,700 a year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, USU also is in the top 15% of our Best Nursing Schools ranking.
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Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools list. Located in the large city of Pittsburgh, West Penn Hospital School of Nursing is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at West Penn Hospital School of Nursing are $10,660 per year. Nursing majors at West Penn Hospital School of Nursing take out an average of $20,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Additional Award Winners
This list shows the remainder of the schools awarded a Best Value Nursing Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 1850 different United States nursing schools we analyzed.
Honorable Mentions
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Nursing Schools award.
Nursing by Region
View the Best Value Nursing Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Nursing Rankings
Nursing Related Majors for Nursing
One of 30 majors within the healthcare area of study, nursing has other similar majors worth exploring.
Nursing Concentrations
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 89,359 |
| Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services | 84,492 |
| Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 84,274 |
| Allied Health Professions | 82,308 |
| Public Health | 40,596 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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