2026 Best Value Nurse Anesthetist Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Nurse Anesthetist](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/nurse-anesthetist/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong nurse anesthetist education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value nurse anesthetist schools.
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2026 Best Value Nurse Anesthetist Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in nurse anesthetist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Nurse Anesthetist Schools
Millikin University tops our 2026 list of the best value nurse anesthetist schools in the Great Lakes Region. Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Decatur. Students from in state pay about $26,792 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the nurse anesthetist program here. Early-career nurse anesthetist graduates make about $165,637. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Millikin University admits about 67% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in nurse anesthetist will find it at Youngstown State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,926, while out-of-state students pay about $10,286. Nurse Anesthetist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career nurse anesthetist graduates make about $106,008. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Flint earned it the #3 place for nurse anesthetist. Located in the city of Flint, University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $14,236 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,790. Students borrow a median of $39,231 to complete the nurse anesthetist program here. Early-career nurse anesthetist graduates make about $108,929. That is a strong return on a $39,231 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Wayne State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in nurse anesthetist, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Nurse Anesthetist graduates carry a median of $30,165 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nurse anesthetist degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $103,835. Set against $30,165 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Students looking for strong value in nurse anesthetist will find it at University Of Detroit Mercy, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $32,946. Nurse Anesthetist graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Early-career nurse anesthetist graduates make about $95,228. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Evansville ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value nurse anesthetist schools. Located in the city of Evansville, University Of Evansville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,172. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the nurse anesthetist program here. Soon after graduation, nurse anesthetist degree recipients from University Of Evansville generally make around $71,066. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Lourdes College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value nurse anesthetist schools. Lourdes College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Sylvania. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,370. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the nurse anesthetist program here. Early-career nurse anesthetist graduates make about $142,793. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Otterbein University earned the #8 position for value in nurse anesthetist this year. Located in the suburb of Westerville, Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $35,548. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the nurse anesthetist program here. Early-career nurse anesthetist graduates make about $89,634. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for nurse anesthetist. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Nurse Anesthetist graduates carry a median of $22,920 in student loans. Nurse Anesthetist graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $109,491 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,920 median debt. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Bradley University placed #10 among the best values for nurse anesthetist. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,160. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the nurse anesthetist program here. Soon after graduation, nurse anesthetist degree recipients from Bradley University generally make around $54,513. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Marian University Indiana ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value nurse anesthetist schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Marian University Indiana is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,664. Typical student debt for nurse anesthetist graduates is $37,444. Soon after graduation, nurse anesthetist degree recipients from Marian University Indiana generally make around $71,111. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University came in at #12 for value in nurse anesthetist this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Typical student debt for nurse anesthetist graduates is $25,310. Soon after graduation, nurse anesthetist degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $55,226. Set against $25,310 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Case Western Reserve University landed the #13 spot for nurse anesthetist value this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,608. Typical student debt for nurse anesthetist graduates is $26,580. Nurse Anesthetist graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $112,484 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,580 median debt. Case Western Reserve University admits about 36% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
