2026 Best Value Clinical Nurse Specialist Schools in the Southeast Region

[Clinical Nurse Specialist](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/clinical-nurse-specialist/) 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 clinical nurse specialist schools.
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2026 Best Value Clinical Nurse Specialist Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the clinical nurse specialist degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Clinical Nurse Specialist Schools
East Carolina University tops our 2026 list of the best value clinical nurse specialist schools in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,361 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,264 to complete the clinical nurse specialist program here. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $96,898 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,264 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Students looking for strong value in clinical nurse specialist will find it at University Of Virginia Main Campus, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates carry a median of $15,130 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical nurse specialist degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. That is a strong return on a $15,130 median debt. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Jacksonville University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical nurse specialist schools. Jacksonville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jacksonville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,150. Clinical Nurse Specialist graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Early-career clinical nurse specialist graduates make about $97,066. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Jacksonville University admits about 57% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Florida Southern College one of the best values for clinical nurse specialist. Set in the city of Lakeland, Florida Southern College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $44,040. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the clinical nurse specialist program here. Early-career clinical nurse specialist graduates make about $48,665. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Southern College admits about 64% of applicants.
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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 · 4 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.