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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Nursing (With Aid)

531 Ranked Colleges
50,422 Degrees Awarded
$22,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master's For Those Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Nursing is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 3rd of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 313,362 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 50,422 nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 531 colleges that offer a degree in nursing. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great nursing programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the nursing program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 Master’s For Those Getting Aid”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

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

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid.

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

#1

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 #1 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. Hunter College is a large public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 221 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Hunter is also in the top of our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Hunter College are $20,828.

Full Hunter College Nursing Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Los Angeles. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 78 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Nursing Report

#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 Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Lehman is a fairly large school located in Bronx, New York that handed out 83 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Lehman College are $21,000, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Nursing at Lehman College

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. Edinburg, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are $15,151, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Nursing at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Dominguez Hills. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. Carson, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 61 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Dominguez Hills are $17,884, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full CSUDH Nursing Report

With a ranking of #6, California State University - Stanislaus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Stan State is located in Turlock, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Stan State are $18,540, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Stan State Nursing Report

#7

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. UNC Chapel Hill is a large public school situated in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It awarded 99 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

UNC Chapel Hill also claimed a top spot on our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNC Chapel Hill are $30,248.

Full UNC Chapel Hill Nursing Report

Florida International University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. FIU is a large school located in Miami, Florida that handed out 180 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, FIU is also in the top of our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at FIU are $24,211, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full FIU Nursing Report

#9

Western Governors University

Salt Lake City, Utah

Western Governors University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Western Governors University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Salt Lake City, Utah. It awarded 2,579 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Governors University are $7,790, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Nursing at WGU

California State University - Fullerton landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 68 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892.

Read more about Nursing at Cal State Fullerton

California State University - Fresno ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school awarded 23 degrees to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fresno are $17,581, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Fresno State Nursing Report

Texas A&M International University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Texas A&M International University is a medium-sized school located in Laredo, Texas that handed out 16 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M International University are $15,106.

Full Texas A&M International University Nursing Report

California State University - Bakersfield landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’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 19 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Bakersfield are $18,437, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Nursing at California State University - Bakersfield

University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Seattle, Washington, this large public school awarded 18 degrees to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW Seattle is also in the top of our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294.

Read more about Nursing at UW Seattle

#15

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut

Yale University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 116 degrees to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Yale did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Yale University are $44,500, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Yale Nursing Report

Top 25% in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 117 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784.

Full CSULB Nursing Report

#17

The University of West Florida

Pensacola, Florida

The University of West Florida landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Pensacola, Florida, this fairly large public school awarded 69 diplomas to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of West Florida are $24,894, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UWF Nursing Report

#18

Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers, Florida

Florida Gulf Coast University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Fort Myers, Florida, and it awarded 18 masters’s nursing degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at FGCU are $31,216, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Nursing at Florida Gulf Coast University

University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. USF Tampa is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 301 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at USF Tampa are $21,126, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Nursing at USF Tampa

University of California - Irvine did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school handed out 17 degrees to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UC Irvine also did well on our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456.

Full UC Irvine Nursing Report

#21

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

University of California - Los Angeles came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s nursing degrees to 149 students in 2019-2020.

UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Nursing Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131.

Read full report on Nursing at University of California - Los Angeles

With a ranking of #22, The University of Texas at El Paso did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. The University of Texas at El Paso is located in El Paso, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 171 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at El Paso are $16,180, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Nursing at The University of Texas at El Paso

Indiana University - Northwest did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. IU Northwest is a public institution located in Gary, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Northwest are $18,275, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Nursing at Indiana University - Northwest

#24

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, this large public school awarded 22 degrees to qualified masters’s nursing students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State are $26,707, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Nursing at Florida State University

#25

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California

California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. California State University - San Bernardino is located in San Bernardino, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s nursing degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUSB are $17,936, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Nursing at California State University - San Bernardino

Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’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

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina
#27

Texas Woman's University

Denton, Texas
#28

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#29

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida
#30

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana
#31

College of Staten Island CUNY

Staten Island, New York
#32

McNeese State University

Lake Charles, Louisiana
#33

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina
#34

Augusta University

Augusta, Georgia
#36

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky
#39

MSU Texas

Wichita Falls, Texas
#41

United States University

San Diego, California
#43

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#46

Stony Brook University

Stony Brook, New York
#46

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin
#50

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Nursing Schools for a Master’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 The University of Texas at Tyler Tyler, TX
52 San Diego State University San Diego, CA
53 Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL
54 Marshall University Huntington, WV
54 The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX
56 Rhode Island College Providence, RI
57 Brigham Young University - Provo Provo, UT
58 University of Phoenix - Arizona Tempe, AZ
59 University of North Georgia Dahlonega, GA
60 University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VA
61 Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN
62 Indiana University - South Bend South Bend, IN
63 Mount Marty University Yankton, SD
64 Governors State University University Park, IL
65 The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN
Rank College Location
66 Columbia Central University - Caguas Caguas, PR
67 California State University - San Marcos San Marcos, CA
68 University of California - Davis Davis, CA
69 University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND
70 Columbus State University Columbus, GA
71 University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, AK
72 Ball State University Muncie, IN
73 Indiana University - East Richmond, IN
74 University of South Alabama Mobile, AL
75 Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah, NJ
76 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
77 University of Wyoming Laramie, WY
77 Indiana University - Kokomo Kokomo, IN
79 University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT
80 Georgia Southwestern State University Americus, GA

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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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