---

2026 Best Value Pre-Nursing Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Pre-Nursing Studies](/majors/health-care-professions/health-medical-preparatory-programs/pre-nursing-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. 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 pre-nursing studies students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Pre-Nursing Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

2026 Best Value Pre-Nursing Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in pre-nursing studies, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Pre-Nursing Studies Schools

1

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Cincinnati, OH

$13,363 In-State Tuition & Fees

$23,530 Avg Student Debt

$54,810 Median Earnings (10yr)

Leading the list is University Of Cincinnati Main Campus, our #1 best value for pre-nursing studies in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete the pre-nursing studies program here. Soon after graduation, pre-nursing studies degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $58,659. Set against $23,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.

2

Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH

$66,608 In-State Tuition & Fees

$25,106 Avg Student Debt

$87,989 Median Earnings (10yr)

Students looking for strong value in pre-nursing studies will find it at Case Western Reserve University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $66,608. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete the pre-nursing studies program here. Soon after graduation, pre-nursing studies degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $74,459. That is a strong return on a $25,106 median debt. Case Western Reserve University admits about 36% of applicants.

View All Pre-Nursing Studies 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 1 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.