[Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/public-health-community-nurse-nursing/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public health/community nurse/nursing education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for public health/community nurse/nursing students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public health/community nurse/nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
California State University Long Beach earned the #1 spot for value among public health/community nurse/nursing schools in the Far Western Region. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Students borrow a median of $18,661 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Soon after graduation, public health/community nurse/nursing degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $129,036. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
University Of California Irvine came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value public health/community nurse/nursing schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,752 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $13,400 in student loans. Early-career public health/community nurse/nursing graduates make about $87,466. Set against $13,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 29%.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value public health/community nurse/nursing schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public health/community nurse/nursing graduates is $18,750. Soon after graduation, public health/community nurse/nursing degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $65,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Seattle University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public health/community nurse/nursing, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,721. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of Seattle University earn a median of $63,214 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
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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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
