2026 Best Value Adult Health Nurse/Nursing Schools in North Carolina
[Adult Health Nurse/Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/adult-health-nurse-nursing/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value adult health nurse/nursing schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Adult Health Nurse/Nursing Schools in North Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the adult health nurse/nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Adult Health Nurse/Nursing Schools
Leading the list is Western Carolina University, our #1 best value for adult health nurse/nursing in North Carolina. Western Carolina University is a large public school located in the town of Cullowhee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,630, compared with $8,630 for out-of-state students. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $23,163 in student loans. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median of $44,926 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Carolina University admits about 82% of applicants.
East Carolina University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in adult health nurse/nursing, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,361, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $25,264 in student loans. Early-career adult health nurse/nursing graduates make about $51,931. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. East Carolina University admits about 89% of applicants.
Methodist University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in adult health nurse/nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. Methodist University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fayetteville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,250. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the adult health nurse/nursing program here. Soon after graduation, adult health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Methodist University generally make around $70,746. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Duke University one of the best values for adult health nurse/nursing. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,758. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the adult health nurse/nursing program here. Early-career adult health nurse/nursing graduates make about $116,855. Set against $29,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
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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 · 4 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.
