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2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid

953 Ranked Colleges
159,958 Degrees Awarded
$5,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor's For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

With 313,362 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, nursing is the 3rd most popular major in the United States. In 2017-2018, nursing graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $67,065 and had an average of $26,282 in loans still to pay off.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 159,958 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 953 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in nursing. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent nursing programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the nursing program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The nursing school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree nursing students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Nursing (With Aid)

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Los Angeles. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 171 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, Cal State LA is in the top on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Cal State LA is $2,768 for Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Nursing Report

Top 20% in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas A & M University - Central Texas. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid. Located in Killeen, Texas, this small public school handed out 37 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Texas A & M University - Central Texas also claimed a top spot on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.

Read more about Nursing at Texas A & M University - Central Texas

#3

Lehman College

Bronx, New York

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lehman College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. Lehman College is a fairly large school located in Bronx, New York that handed out 197 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Lehman is also in the top of our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Lehman is $1,814 for Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students with aid.

Read full report on Nursing at Lehman

#4

Hunter College

New York, New York

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Hunter College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid. Located in New York, New York, this large public school awarded 179 degrees to qualified bachelors’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Hunter excels when it comes to nursing quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Hunter is $2,490 for Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at Hunter

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Dominguez Hills. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. CSUDH is a fairly large school located in Carson, California that handed out 130 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, CSUDH is also in the top of our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend CSUDH is $4,215 for Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at CSUDH

With a ranking of #6, New York City College of Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Brooklyn, New York, and it awarded 111 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,667 for bachelor’s degree nursing students with aid per year to attend New York City College of Technology.

Read more about Nursing at City Tech

#6

Western Governors University

Salt Lake City, Utah

Western Governors University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. WGU is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Salt Lake City, Utah. It awarded 11,863 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

WGU excels when it comes to nursing quality. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Western Governors University is $9,805 for Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at WGU

#8

Farmingdale State College

Farmingdale, New York

Farmingdale State College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale is located in Farmingdale, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 102 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale is also in the top of our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for SUNY College of Technology at Farmingdale is $8,638 for bachelor’s degree nursing students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Farmingdale State College Nursing Report

#9

Berea College

Berea, Kentucky

Berea College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Berea is a small school located in Berea, Kentucky that handed out 13 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Berea is $5,184 for Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Nursing at Berea College

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public institution located in Edinburg, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 138 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UT Rio Grande Valley is $4,514 for Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

With a ranking of #11, California State University - Stanislaus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Stanislaus is a fairly large school located in Turlock, California that handed out 135 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Stan State excels when it comes to nursing quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $6,019 for Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students with aid per year to attend Stan State.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Nursing at Stan State

California State University - Fresno came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school awarded 186 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Fresno State excels when it comes to nursing quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Fresno is $5,464 for Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full California State University - Fresno Nursing Report

#13

York College

Jamaica, New York

York College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. York is a medium-sized public school situated in Jamaica, New York. It awarded 50 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,433 for Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students with aid per year to attend York College.

Read full report on Nursing at York College

#14

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. UNC Chapel Hill is a large public school situated in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It awarded 187 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, UNC Chapel Hill is in the top on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend UNC Chapel Hill is $12,352 for bachelor’s degree nursing students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UNC Chapel Hill Nursing Report

California State University - Fullerton ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Fullerton, California, this large public school handed out 295 degrees to qualified bachelors’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, Cal State Fullerton is in the top on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. It costs about $7,991 for Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students with aid per year to attend Cal State Fullerton.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Cal State Fullerton Nursing Report

#16

Miami Dade College

Miami, Florida

With a ranking of #16, Miami Dade College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Miami, Florida, and it awarded 281 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Miami Dade College is $4,842 for bachelor’s degree nursing students with aid.

Full Miami Dade College Nursing Report

Texas A&M International University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. Texas A&M International University is a medium-sized public school situated in Laredo, Texas. It awarded 85 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M International University is $3,074 for Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students with aid.

Read full report on Nursing at Texas A&M International University

University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a public institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a large population, and it awarded 119 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle excels when it comes to nursing quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend UW Seattle is $13,297 for bachelor’s degree nursing students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

California State University - Bakersfield came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Bakersfield is located in Bakersfield, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 102 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, CSUB is also in the top of our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Bakersfield is $5,318 for Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students with aid.

Read full report on Nursing at CSUB

#20

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Gainesville, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s nursing degrees to 213 students in 2019-2020.

UF also claimed a top spot on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend UF is $6,302 for Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at UF

#21

St Petersburg College

Clearwater, Florida

St Petersburg College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. Clearwater, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s nursing degrees to 219 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for SPC is $3,226 for Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students with aid.

Read more about Nursing at SPC

California State University - Northridge did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. CSUN is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 90 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUN excels when it comes to nursing quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for CSUN is $8,414 for bachelor’s degree nursing students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Nursing at CSUN

#23

North Florida College

Madison, Florida

North Florida College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Madison, Florida, this small public school handed out 17 degrees to qualified bachelors’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend NFC is $2,258 for Bachelor’s Degree Nursing students with aid.

Full North Florida College Nursing Report

California State University - Long Beach did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. California State University - Long Beach is located in Long Beach, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 236 bachelors’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

CSULB also claimed a top spot on our “Best Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for CSULB is $9,622 for bachelor’s degree nursing students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full CSULB Nursing Report

#25

College of Staten Island CUNY

Staten Island, New York

College of Staten Island CUNY did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. This fairly large school is located in Staten Island, New York, and it awarded 86 bachelors’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend CSI is $5,118 for bachelor’s degree nursing students with aid.

Full CSI Nursing Report

Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Valencia College

Orlando, Florida
#28

The University of West Florida

Pensacola, Florida
#29

Florida Gateway College

Lake City, Florida
#30

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana
#31

Florida State College at Jacksonville

Jacksonville, Florida
#32

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California
#33

Chipola College

Marianna, Florida
#35

Indian River State College

Fort Pierce, Florida
#36

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#37

Franklin University

Columbus, Ohio
#39

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida
#40

South Florida State College

Avon Park, Florida
#44

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#46

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville, North Carolina
#48

Texas Woman's University

Denton, Texas
#49

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina
#50

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Nursing Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 California State University - San Marcos San Marcos, CA
52 Pensacola State College Pensacola, FL
53 Pasco-Hernando State College New Port Richey, FL
54 The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso, TX
55 California State University - Monterey Bay Seaside, CA
56 Florida SouthWestern State College Fort Myers, FL
57 Heritage University Toppenish, WA
58 San Diego State University San Diego, CA
59 The University of Texas of the Permian Basin Odessa, TX
60 University of Nevada - Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV
61 Louisiana State University - Alexandria Alexandria, LA
62 University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, IL
63 University of Phoenix - Arizona Tempe, AZ
64 McNeese State University Lake Charles, LA
65 The University of Texas at Tyler Tyler, TX
Rank College Location
66 Medgar Evers College Brooklyn, NY
67 MSU Texas Wichita Falls, TX
68 Augusta University Augusta, GA
69 California State University - East Bay Hayward, CA
70 University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL
71 Colorado Mountain College Glenwood Springs, CO
71 The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TX
73 Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences Memphis, TN
74 Austin Community College District Austin, TX
75 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL
76 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Tifton, GA
77 Truman State University Kirksville, MO
78 Governors State University University Park, IL
79 Nevada State College Henderson, NV
80 Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FL
80 Monroe College Bronx, NY
82 Oklahoma Panhandle State University Goodwell, OK
83 University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI
84 San Jose State University San Jose, CA
84 Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KY
86 The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX
87 Northeastern State University Tahlequah, OK
88 University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Green Bay, WI
89 Eastern Florida State College Cocoa, FL
90 University of Wyoming Laramie, WY
Rank College Location
91 University of Missouri - St Louis Saint Louis, MO
92 Saint Johns River State College Palatka, FL
93 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI
94 Bellevue College Bellevue, WA
95 University of Louisiana at Monroe Monroe, LA
96 University of Louisiana at Lafayette Lafayette, LA
97 University of North Georgia Dahlonega, GA
98 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI
99 East Central University Ada, OK
100 Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL
101 Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL
102 Mercy College Dobbs Ferry, NY
103 The University of Virginia’s College at Wise Wise, VA
104 Delaware Technical Community College - Terry Dover, DE
105 University of Phoenix - California Costa Mesa, CA
106 Minot State University Minot, ND
107 Polk State College Winter Haven, FL
108 California State University - Channel Islands Camarillo, CA
108 North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, NC
110 San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA
111 Georgia Highlands College Rome, GA
112 Rhode Island College Providence, RI
113 Marshall University Huntington, WV
114 Laredo College Laredo, TX
115 Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY
Rank College Location
116 University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, AK
117 Northwest Florida State College Niceville, FL
118 Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN
119 Shepherd University Shepherdstown, WV
120 Indiana University - South Bend South Bend, IN
121 Indiana University - Kokomo Kokomo, IN
121 Columbia Central University - Caguas Caguas, PR
123 Tallahassee Community College Tallahassee, FL
124 Wenatchee Valley College Wenatchee, WA
125 Lamar University Beaumont, TX
126 Wright State University - Lake Campus Celina, OH
127 Gulf Coast State College Panama City, FL
128 Dalton State College Dalton, GA
129 Lake-Sumter State College Leesburg, FL
130 Daytona State College Daytona Beach, FL
131 Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, LA
132 Columbus State University Columbus, GA
133 University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT
134 Indiana University - East Richmond, IN
134 Winston - Salem State University Winston-Salem, NC
136 University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI
137 Brigham Young University - Provo Provo, UT
138 University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VA
139 Middle Georgia State University Macon, GA
140 Capella University Minneapolis, MN
Rank College Location
141 Iowa State University Ames, IA
142 Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA
143 Clayton State University Morrow, GA
143 Towson University Towson, MD

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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