2026 Best Value Adult Health Nurse/Nursing Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Adult Health Nurse/Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/adult-health-nurse-nursing/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 10 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 the The Plains States Region
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
University Of Missouri St Louis earned the #1 spot for value among adult health nurse/nursing schools in the The Plains States Region. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,120, while out-of-state students pay about $37,620. 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 University Of Missouri St Louis generally make around $53,079. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Clarkson College earned it the #2 place for adult health nurse/nursing. Located in the city of Omaha, Clarkson College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,104. Typical student debt for adult health nurse/nursing graduates is $31,289. Early-career adult health nurse/nursing graduates make about $99,917. That is a strong return on a $31,289 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Kansas one of the best values for adult health nurse/nursing. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $56,289 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
Winona State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in adult health nurse/nursing, landing the #4 spot this year. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,576, compared with $17,308 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for adult health nurse/nursing graduates is $26,252. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $101,220 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Students looking for strong value in adult health nurse/nursing will find it at Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Omaha, Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,934. Typical student debt for adult health nurse/nursing graduates is $35,362. Soon after graduation, adult health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health generally make around $80,755. Set against $35,362 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Nebraska Methodist College Of Nursing And Allied Health admits about 73% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value adult health nurse/nursing schools. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Typical student debt for adult health nurse/nursing graduates is $23,250. Early-career adult health nurse/nursing graduates make about $92,946. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Iowa ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value adult health nurse/nursing schools. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $24,811 in student loans. Early-career adult health nurse/nursing graduates make about $96,368. Set against $24,811 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
St Catherine University placed #8 among the best values for adult health nurse/nursing. St Catherine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,428. Students borrow a median of $32,610 to complete the adult health nurse/nursing program here. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates of St Catherine University earn a median of $89,336 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $32,610 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis placed #9 among the best values for adult health nurse/nursing. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $27,166 in tuition and fees. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $29,881 in student loans. Adult Health Nurse/nursing graduates of Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn a median of $103,656 early in their careers. Set against $29,881 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Midamerica Nazarene University placed #10 among the best values for adult health nurse/nursing. Midamerica Nazarene University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Olathe. Students from in state pay about $37,174 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,620 to complete the adult health nurse/nursing program here. Soon after graduation, adult health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Midamerica Nazarene University generally make around $80,895. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Midamerica Nazarene University admits about 79% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
