2026 Best Value Nursing Schools in Connecticut
[Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong nursing education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for nursing students.
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2026 Best Value Nursing Schools in Connecticut
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in nursing, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Nursing Schools
Leading the list is Capital Community College, our #1 best value for nursing in Connecticut. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,338, compared with $15,596 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,876 to complete the nursing program here. Nursing graduates of Capital Community College earn a median of $76,364 early in their careers. Set against $17,876 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Charter Oak State College earned it the #2 place for nursing. Located in the suburb of New Britain, Charter Oak State College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,506 in tuition and fees. Nursing graduates carry a median of $23,584 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Charter Oak State College generally make around $62,864. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in nursing will find it at Central Connecticut State University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of New Britain, Central Connecticut State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,050, with out-of-state students paying around $16,550. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete the nursing program here. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Central Connecticut State University generally make around $180,640. Set against $26,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Western Connecticut State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #4 spot this year. Western Connecticut State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Danbury. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,401, while out-of-state students pay about $16,901. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the nursing program here. Early-career nursing graduates make about $106,854. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Southern Connecticut State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in nursing, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,442, with out-of-state students paying around $16,942. Nursing graduates carry a median of $25,837 in student loans. Nursing graduates of Southern Connecticut State University earn a median of $100,616 early in their careers. Set against $25,837 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Post University placed #6 among the best values for nursing. Located in the city of Waterbury, Post University is a very large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,922. Nursing graduates carry a median of $35,364 in student loans. Nursing graduates of Post University earn a median of $50,494 early in their careers. Set against $35,364 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Connecticut earned the #7 position for value in nursing this year. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,044, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the nursing program here. Nursing graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $117,021 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 52%.
University Of Bridgeport landed the #8 spot for nursing value this year. University Of Bridgeport is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bridgeport. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,760. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the nursing program here. Early-career nursing graduates make about $89,752. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Yale University placed #9 among the best values for nursing. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,250 in tuition and fees. Nursing graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans. Early-career nursing graduates make about $133,137. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Joseph College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing schools. Located in the city of West Hartford, Saint Joseph College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,278. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $30,990. Early-career nursing graduates make about $103,936. That is a strong return on a $30,990 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Goodwin College came in at #11 for value in nursing this year. Set in the city of East Hartford, Goodwin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,188. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $51,413. Nursing graduates of Goodwin College earn a median of $84,487 early in their careers. Set against $51,413 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Hartford placed #12 among the best values for nursing. Set in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,075. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $26,062. Nursing graduates of University Of Hartford earn a median of $104,775 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Quinnipiac University came in at #13 for value in nursing this year. Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hamden. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,480. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the nursing program here. Early-career nursing graduates make about $116,250. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Sacred Heart University came in at #14 for value in nursing this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,404. Students borrow a median of $29,200 to complete the nursing program here. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Sacred Heart University generally make around $107,149. That is a strong return on a $29,200 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Fairfield University earned the #15 position for value in nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Fairfield University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,400. Nursing graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career nursing graduates make about $119,878. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fairfield University admits about 33% of applicants.
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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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
