2026 Best Value Nursing Science Schools in Pennsylvania

[Nursing Science](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/nursing-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for nursing science students.
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2026 Best Value Nursing Science Schools in Pennsylvania
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the nursing science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Nursing Science Schools
Leading the list is Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus, our #1 best value for nursing science in Pennsylvania. Set in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,380, while out-of-state students pay about $16,297. Nursing Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus generally make around $68,936. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in nursing science will find it at Millersville University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Millersville, Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,128, with out-of-state students paying around $22,952. Students borrow a median of $33,124 to complete the nursing science program here. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from Millersville University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $82,137. That is a strong return on a $33,124 median debt. Millersville University Of Pennsylvania admits about 86% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Thomas Jefferson University one of the best values for nursing science. Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,355. Students borrow a median of $30,000 to complete the nursing science program here. Nursing Science graduates of Thomas Jefferson University earn a median of $64,243 early in their careers. Set against $30,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a great value for students pursuing a degree in nursing science, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,500. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the nursing science program here. Early-career nursing science graduates make about $100,772. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned it the #5 place for nursing science. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Nursing Science graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $56,926. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
Desales University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing science schools. Set in the suburb of Center Valley, Desales University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $46,800. Nursing Science graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from Desales University generally make around $54,798. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Desales University admits about 77% of applicants.
Widener University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing science schools. Set in the suburb of Chester, Widener University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,730. Typical student debt for nursing science graduates is $27,000. Early-career nursing science graduates make about $60,864. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Duquesne University landed the #8 spot for nursing science value this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,986. Nursing Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing science degree recipients from Duquesne University generally make around $93,144. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Duquesne University admits about 84% 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 · 8 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.