by our College Data Analytics Team
[Nursing](/majors/health-care-professions/nursing/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong nursing education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 51 schools to find the best return on investment for nursing students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in nursing, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in nursing, no school beat Century College this year. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,214. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $25,750. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Century College generally make around $66,512. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Riverland Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing schools. Set in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,297 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the nursing program here. Nursing graduates of Riverland Community College earn a median of $69,481 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes North Hennepin Community College one of the best values for nursing. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,061 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $27,779. Early-career nursing graduates make about $67,312. That is a strong return on a $27,779 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earned it the #4 place for nursing. Located in the town of Hibbing, Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,022. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $24,226. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College generally make around $61,116. Set against $24,226 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ridgewater College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing schools. Set in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,121. Nursing graduates carry a median of $23,062 in student loans. Early-career nursing graduates make about $59,082. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Inver Hills Community College came in at #6 for value in nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Inver Grove Heights, Inver Hills Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,146 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $25,391. Early-career nursing graduates make about $66,870. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Central College placed #7 among the best values for nursing. South Central College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of North Mankato. Students from in state pay about $6,146 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $28,072. Early-career nursing graduates make about $60,434. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pine Technical College earned the #8 position for value in nursing this year. Located in the rural area of Pine City, Pine Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,738. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $31,282. Early-career nursing graduates make about $64,961. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing schools. Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Fergus Falls. In-state tuition and fees average $5,908. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $25,375. Early-career nursing graduates make about $58,823. Set against $25,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
St Cloud Technical And Community College earned the #10 position for value in nursing this year. St Cloud Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,124. Nursing graduates carry a median of $30,522 in student loans. Early-career nursing graduates make about $59,395. Set against $30,522 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rochester Community And Technical College came in at #11 for value in nursing this year. Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rochester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,389. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete the nursing program here. Early-career nursing graduates make about $70,020. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Anoka Ramsey Community College landed the #12 spot for nursing value this year. Located in the suburb of Coon Rapids, Anoka Ramsey Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,682 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,187 to complete the nursing program here. Nursing graduates of Anoka Ramsey Community College earn a median of $66,484 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,187 median debt.
Minnesota West Community And Technical College came in at #13 for value in nursing this year. Set in the rural area of Granite Falls, Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,491. Students borrow a median of $31,750 to complete the nursing program here. Nursing graduates of Minnesota West Community And Technical College earn a median of $74,877 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Lakes College Brainerd earned the #14 position for value in nursing this year. Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Brainerd. Students from in state pay about $6,249 in tuition and fees. Nursing graduates carry a median of $28,354 in student loans. Nursing graduates of Central Lakes College Brainerd earn a median of $68,032 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,354 median debt.
Normandale Community College placed #15 among the best values for nursing. Normandale Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,329. Students borrow a median of $25,125 to complete the nursing program here. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Normandale Community College generally make around $65,052. Set against $25,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College earned the #16 position for value in nursing this year. Set in the town of Cloquet, Fond Du Lac Tribal And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,006 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $36,865. Early-career nursing graduates make about $57,141. Set against $36,865 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwest Technical College landed the #17 spot for nursing value this year. Northwest Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Bemidji. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,254. Nursing graduates carry a median of $31,053 in student loans. Early-career nursing graduates make about $72,778. Set against $31,053 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saint Cloud State University landed the #18 spot for nursing value this year. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,245. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the nursing program here. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Saint Cloud State University generally make around $74,111. Set against $29,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Cloud State University admits about 95% of applicants.
Northland Community And Technical College earned the #19 position for value in nursing this year. Set in the town of Thief River Falls, Northland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,289. Students borrow a median of $27,250 to complete the nursing program here. Early-career nursing graduates make about $67,075. That is a strong return on a $27,250 median debt.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,161. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $25,500. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Minneapolis Community And Technical College generally make around $61,817. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Alexandria Technical And Community College landed the #21 spot for nursing value this year. Set in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,236. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $20,803. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Alexandria Technical And Community College generally make around $66,448. Set against $20,803 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #22 for value in nursing this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Nursing graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Nursing graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $87,395 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Herzing University Minneapolis came in at #23 for value in nursing this year. Herzing University Minneapolis is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of St. Louis Park. Students from in state pay about $13,450 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for nursing graduates is $43,985. Early-career nursing graduates make about $75,774. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Herzing University Minneapolis admits about 94% of applicants.
Southwest Minnesota State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value nursing schools. Set in the town of Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,361. Nursing graduates carry a median of $33,560 in student loans. Soon after graduation, nursing degree recipients from Southwest Minnesota State University generally make around $71,933. Set against $33,560 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Bemidji State University came in at #25 for value in nursing this year. Set in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,237 in tuition and fees. Nursing graduates carry a median of $27,990 in student loans. Early-career nursing graduates make about $77,639. That is a strong return on a $27,990 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
These schools also delivered strong value for nursing this year:
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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 · 51 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 44 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.