[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public health/community nurse/nursing students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public health/community nurse/nursing, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Jacksonville State University, our #1 best value for public health/community nurse/nursing in the Southeast Region. Jacksonville State University is a large public school located in the suburb of Jacksonville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,894, compared with $23,334 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public health/community nurse/nursing graduates is $21,500. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of Jacksonville State University earn a median of $74,453 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes East Carolina University one of the best values for public health/community nurse/nursing. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,361 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Students borrow a median of $25,264 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Soon after graduation, public health/community nurse/nursing degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $96,898. That is a strong return on a $25,264 median debt. East Carolina University admits about 89% of applicants.
Bluefield College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value public health/community nurse/nursing schools. Set in the town of Bluefield, Bluefield College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,770. Students borrow a median of $22,442 to complete the public health/community nurse/nursing program here. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates of Bluefield College earn a median of $89,770 early in their careers. Set against $22,442 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Emory University earned it the #4 place for public health/community nurse/nursing. Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,280. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career public health/community nurse/nursing graduates make about $67,840. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Emory University admits about 11% of applicants.
University Of Miami is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public health/community nurse/nursing, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Public Health/community Nurse/nursing graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health/community nurse/nursing degree recipients from University Of Miami generally make around $116,541. Set against $23,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 19%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 5 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.
