2026 Best Value Critical Care Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Critical Care Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/critical-care-nursing/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for critical care nursing students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Critical Care Nursing Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the critical care nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Critical Care Nursing Schools
Youngstown State University tops our 2026 list of the best value critical care nursing schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,926, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the critical care nursing program here. Critical Care Nursing graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $106,008 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Toledo came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value critical care nursing schools. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,157, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. Students borrow a median of $22,400 to complete the critical care nursing program here. Early-career critical care nursing graduates make about $76,736. Set against $22,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
Alverno College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value critical care nursing schools. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Alverno College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,086 in tuition and fees. Critical Care Nursing graduates carry a median of $34,000 in student loans. Critical Care Nursing graduates of Alverno College earn a median of $91,109 early in their careers. Set against $34,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Lewis University one of the best values for critical care nursing. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $39,200 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the critical care nursing program here. Critical Care Nursing graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $90,066 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lewis University admits about 71% of applicants.
Ursuline College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value critical care nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Pepper Pike, Ursuline College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,990 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $35,000 to complete the critical care nursing program here. Soon after graduation, critical care nursing degree recipients from Ursuline College generally make around $93,515. That is a strong return on a $35,000 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #6 position for value in critical care nursing this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Typical student debt for critical care nursing graduates is $28,625. Soon after graduation, critical care nursing degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $83,999. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Herzing University Madison placed #7 among the best values for critical care nursing. Herzing University Madison is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Madison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,450. Typical student debt for critical care nursing graduates is $37,747. Early-career critical care nursing graduates make about $90,021. That is a strong return on a $37,747 median debt. Herzing University Madison admits about 94% of applicants.
Marquette University landed the #8 spot for critical care nursing value this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,170. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the critical care nursing program here. Soon after graduation, critical care nursing degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $86,752. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #9 spot for critical care nursing value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the critical care nursing program here. Early-career critical care nursing graduates make about $111,912. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Case Western Reserve University earned the #10 position for value in critical care nursing this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $66,608. Critical Care Nursing graduates carry a median of $26,580 in student loans. Soon after graduation, critical care nursing degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $112,484. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Case Western Reserve University admits about 36% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 4 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.
