2026 Best Value Clinical Nurse Specialist Schools in the Middle Atlantic 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 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for clinical nurse specialist students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Clinical Nurse Specialist Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in clinical nurse specialist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Clinical Nurse Specialist Schools
Leading the list is Johns Hopkins University, our #1 best value for clinical nurse specialist in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $84,850 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Saint Josephs College New York one of the best values for clinical nurse specialist. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Saint Josephs College New York is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $36,550. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the clinical nurse specialist program here. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse specialist degree recipients from Saint Josephs College New York generally make around $49,214. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Students looking for strong value in clinical nurse specialist will find it at University At Buffalo, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,936, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates carry a median of $26,117 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse specialist degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $52,403. Set against $26,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
A rank of #4 makes Suny At Binghamton one of the best values for clinical nurse specialist. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,567, with out-of-state students paying around $30,447. Typical student debt for clinical nurse specialist graduates is $23,750. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates of Suny At Binghamton earn a median of $51,766 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 39%.
A rank of #5 makes Robert Morris University one of the best values for clinical nurse specialist. Located in the suburb of Moon Township, Robert Morris University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $35,770. Typical student debt for clinical nurse specialist graduates is $27,000. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates of Robert Morris University earn a median of $85,290 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Molloy College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical nurse specialist schools. Set in the suburb of Rockville Centre, Molloy College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,790 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for clinical nurse specialist graduates is $31,000. Early-career clinical nurse specialist graduates make about $137,197. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Molloy College admits about 82% of applicants.
Saint John Fisher College placed #7 among the best values for clinical nurse specialist. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Saint John Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,190. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the clinical nurse specialist program here. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse specialist degree recipients from Saint John Fisher College generally make around $88,526. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint John Fisher College admits about 66% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical nurse specialist schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the clinical nurse specialist program here. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $98,377 early in their careers. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Desales University earned the #9 position for value in clinical nurse specialist this year. Located in the suburb of Center Valley, Desales University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $46,800. Typical student debt for clinical nurse specialist graduates is $31,000. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse specialist degree recipients from Desales University generally make around $97,620. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
New York University earned the #10 position for value in clinical nurse specialist this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,796 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for clinical nurse specialist graduates is $25,500. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse specialist degree recipients from New York University generally make around $138,833. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
Narrow Clinical Nurse Specialist Schools by State
More Clinical Nurse Specialist Rankings
View All Clinical Nurse Specialist Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 11 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.
