2026 Best Value Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania
[Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/psychiatric-mental-health-nurse-nursing/) 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 10 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing students.
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2026 Best Value Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing Schools in Pennsylvania
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing Schools
Our analysis ranked York College Pennsylvania the best value for a degree in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing in Pennsylvania. York College Pennsylvania is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of York. In-state tuition and fees average $25,588. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program here. Early-career psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates make about $110,490. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at La Salle University earned it the #2 place for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing. Located in the city of Philadelphia, La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $37,800. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program here. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from La Salle University generally make around $110,705. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Carlow University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. Carlow University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Students from in state pay about $35,874 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates is $28,500. Early-career psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates make about $66,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing will find it at Robert Morris University, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Moon Township, Robert Morris University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $35,770 in tuition and fees. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Robert Morris University generally make around $85,290. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $98,377 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
Desales University landed the #6 spot for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing value this year. Desales University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Center Valley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,800. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates of Desales University earn a median of $97,620 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pennsylvania placed #7 among the best values for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,686. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $22,410 in student loans. Early-career psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing graduates make about $137,262. That is a strong return on a $22,410 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Duquesne University came in at #8 for value in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,986. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program here. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates of Duquesne University earn a median of $93,144 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Lancaster. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,933. Students borrow a median of $26,812 to complete the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program here. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences generally make around $77,077. Set against $26,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lancaster General College Of Nursing And Health Sciences admits about 41% 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
