2026 Best Value Clinical Nurse Specialist Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Clinical Nurse Specialist](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/clinical-nurse-specialist/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong clinical nurse specialist education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for clinical nurse specialist students.
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2026 Best Value Clinical Nurse Specialist Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in clinical nurse specialist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Clinical Nurse Specialist Schools
Purdue University Northwest tops our 2026 list of the best value clinical nurse specialist schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,357, with out-of-state students paying around $15,504. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates carry a median of $24,552 in student loans. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates of Purdue University Northwest earn a median of $93,180 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,552 median debt. Purdue University Northwest admits about 72% of applicants.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical nurse specialist schools. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for clinical nurse specialist graduates is $28,408. Early-career clinical nurse specialist graduates make about $89,364. Set against $28,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in clinical nurse specialist will find it at University Of Southern Indiana, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,066 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,907. Typical student debt for clinical nurse specialist graduates is $25,089. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse specialist degree recipients from University Of Southern Indiana generally make around $91,255. Set against $25,089 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Students looking for strong value in clinical nurse specialist will find it at Saginaw Valley State University, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,930, while out-of-state students pay about $30,450. Typical student debt for clinical nurse specialist graduates is $28,000. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates of Saginaw Valley State University earn a median of $50,012 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saginaw Valley State University admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a great value for students pursuing a degree in clinical nurse specialist, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,398, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career clinical nurse specialist graduates make about $46,561. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Detroit Mercy ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical nurse specialist schools. Set in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,946. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the clinical nurse specialist program here. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse specialist degree recipients from University Of Detroit Mercy generally make around $95,228. Set against $29,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Alverno College placed #7 among the best values for clinical nurse specialist. Alverno College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Students from in state pay about $34,086 in tuition and fees. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates carry a median of $34,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse specialist degree recipients from Alverno College generally make around $55,790. That is a strong return on a $34,000 median debt. Alverno College admits about 86% of applicants.
Ursuline College placed #8 among the best values for clinical nurse specialist. Located in the suburb of Pepper Pike, Ursuline College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,990. Students borrow a median of $35,000 to complete the clinical nurse specialist program here. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse specialist degree recipients from Ursuline College generally make around $80,267. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Elmhurst College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical nurse specialist schools. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,955. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of $51,232 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Capital University came in at #10 for value in clinical nurse specialist this year. Capital University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,234. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse specialist degree recipients from Capital University generally make around $46,516. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Capital University admits about 70% of applicants.
Edgewood College placed #11 among the best values for clinical nurse specialist. Set in the city of Madison, Edgewood College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,860. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse specialist degree recipients from Edgewood College generally make around $56,578. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of Rio Grande landed the #12 spot for clinical nurse specialist value this year. University Of Rio Grande is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Rio Grande. Students from in state pay about $20,560 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for clinical nurse specialist graduates is $39,677. Early-career clinical nurse specialist graduates make about $46,611. That is a strong return on a $39,677 median debt.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical nurse specialist schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse specialist degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $58,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 13 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.
