2026 Best Value Nursing Practice Schools in Ohio
[Nursing Practice](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/nursing-practice/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for nursing practice students.
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2026 Best Value Nursing Practice Schools in Ohio
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in nursing practice, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Nursing Practice Schools
Leading the list is Mount Carmel College Of Nursing, our #1 best value for nursing practice in Ohio. Mount Carmel College Of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,600. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the nursing practice program here. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Mount Carmel College Of Nursing generally make around $88,238. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Akron Main Campus one of the best values for nursing practice. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $102,988. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in nursing practice will find it at Bryant And Stratton College Parma, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Parma, Bryant And Stratton College Parma is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,013. Students borrow a median of $37,278 to complete the nursing practice program here. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Bryant And Stratton College Parma generally make around $70,342. Set against $37,278 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Cleveland State University one of the best values for nursing practice. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,982, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. Students borrow a median of $27,500 to complete the nursing practice program here. Early-career nursing practice graduates make about $78,173. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Ohio State University Main Campus one of the best values for nursing practice. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Students borrow a median of $26,240 to complete the nursing practice program here. Early-career nursing practice graduates make about $90,970. That is a strong return on a $26,240 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
College Of Mount St Joseph came in at #6 for value in nursing practice this year. Set in the suburb of Cincinnati, College Of Mount St Joseph is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,150. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the nursing practice program here. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from College Of Mount St Joseph generally make around $95,267. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. College Of Mount St Joseph admits about 59% of applicants.
Ursuline College earned the #7 position for value in nursing practice this year. Ursuline College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Pepper Pike. In-state tuition and fees average $38,990. Students borrow a median of $35,000 to complete the nursing practice program here. Soon after graduation, nursing practice 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.
Walsh University landed the #8 spot for nursing practice value this year. Set in the suburb of North Canton, Walsh University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,030. Typical student debt for nursing practice graduates is $28,000. Early-career nursing practice graduates make about $81,961. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #9 for value in nursing practice this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Students borrow a median of $26,778 to complete the nursing practice program here. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $80,108. That is a strong return on a $26,778 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Ashland University came in at #10 for value in nursing practice this year. Set in the town of Ashland, Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,210. Students borrow a median of $30,250 to complete the nursing practice program here. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Ashland University generally make around $71,445. Set against $30,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Otterbein University earned the #11 position for value in nursing practice this year. Located in the suburb of Westerville, Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $35,548 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for nursing practice graduates is $27,000. Nursing Practice graduates of Otterbein University earn a median of $89,634 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Otterbein University admits about 84% of applicants.
Franklin University came in at #12 for value in nursing practice this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Franklin University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,577. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $35,890 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing practice degree recipients from Franklin University generally make around $57,471. That is a strong return on a $35,890 median debt.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #13 among the best values for nursing practice. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Nursing Practice graduates carry a median of $22,920 in student loans. Early-career nursing practice graduates make about $109,491. Set against $22,920 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Case Western Reserve University earned the #14 position for value in nursing practice this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,608. Students borrow a median of $26,580 to complete the nursing practice program here. Nursing Practice graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $112,484 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 36%.
More Nursing Practice Rankings
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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 · 14 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.
