2023 Best Value Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Nursing Graduate Certificate School for You
With 322,592 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, nursing is the #3 most popular major in the United States.
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.
The Best Value Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 272 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best value graduate certificate programs for nursing students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality for a Postbaccalaureate Certificates in Nursing
Our 2023 rankings named La Salle University the best value school in the United States for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. La Salle is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia.
La Salle graduate students pay an average of $1,455 in tuition and fees each year.
Request Information
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Morningside College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools list. Morningside is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux City.
Morningside graduate students pay an average of $6,516 in tuition and fees each year.
Full Nursing at Morningside College Report
Request Information
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means American Sentinel University is a great value for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. American Sentinel University is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized suburb of Aurora.
American Sentinel University graduate students pay an average of $6,920 in tuition and fees each year.
Request Information
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Mount Marty University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools list. Located in the town of Yankton, Mount Marty is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Mount Marty are $9,650 per year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Mount Marty also did well on our Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full Nursing at Mount Marty University Report
Request Information
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means West Coast University - Orange County is a great value for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. Located in the large city of Anaheim, West Coast University - Orange County is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
West Coast University - Orange County graduate students pay an average of $10,989 in tuition and fees each year.
Full Nursing at West Coast University - Orange County Report
Request Information
West Coast University - Dallas did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the large city of Dallas, West Coast University - Dallas is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
West Coast University - Dallas graduate students pay an average of $10,735 in tuition and fees each year.
Read full report on Nursing at West Coast University - Dallas
Request Information
Youngstown State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a public school with a large student population.
Youngstown State University graduate students pay an average of $6,931 in tuition and fees each year.
Request Information
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #8 on the list. SIUE is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at SIUE are $9,316 a year.
Request Information
Delta State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the town of Cleveland, Delta State University is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Delta State University are $8,360 per year.
Read full report on Nursing at Delta State University
Request Information
Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools list. Located in the medium-sized city of Peoria, St. Francis Medical Center College of Nursing is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at St. Francis Medical Center College of Nursing are $8,740 per year.
Request Information
Clarkson College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value graduate certificate nursing programs. Located in the city of Omaha, Clarkson College is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Clarkson College are $12,294 per year.
Request Information
Mayo Clinic School of Medicine ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools list. Mayo Clinic School of Medicine is a small private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Rochester.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Mayo Clinic School of Medicine are $22,716 per year.
Full Nursing at Mayo Clinic School of Medicine Report
Request Information
Grand Canyon University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value graduate certificate nursing programs. Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Grand Canyon University are $11,538 a year.
Request Information
With a ranking of #14, Concordia University, Wisconsin did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. Located in the large suburb of Mequon, Concordia University, Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.
Concordia University, Wisconsin graduate students pay an average of $11,760 in tuition and fees each year.
Concordia University, Wisconsin excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools list.
Full Nursing at Concordia University, Wisconsin Report
Request Information
Herzing University - Madison landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value graduate certificate nursing programs. Herzing University - Madison is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Madison.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Herzing University - Madison are $11,680 a year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Herzing University - Madison also did well on our Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Request Information
Wheeling University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools list. Wheeling University is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Wheeling.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Wheeling University are $10,160 per year.
Read full report on Nursing at Wheeling University
Request Information
Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in the midsize suburb of Moorhead, MSU Moorhead is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at MSU Moorhead are $11,052 a year.
MSU Moorhead also claimed a spot on our Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Request Information
Liberty University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #18 on the list. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Lynchburg.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Liberty University are $8,360 per year.
Full Nursing at Liberty University Report
Request Information
Winona State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the distant town of Winona, Winona State is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Winona State are $12,836 per year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Winona State also did well on our Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Request Information
Graceland University - Lamoni did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #20 on the list. Located in the remote area of Lamoni, Graceland Lamoni is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Graceland Lamoni graduate students pay an average of $11,187 in tuition and fees each year.
Request Information
Point Loma Nazarene University landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value graduate certificate nursing programs. Located in the city of San Diego, PLNU is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at PLNU are $11,880 a year.
Read full report on Nursing at Point Loma Nazarene University
Request Information
With a ranking of #22, University of St Francis did quite well on this year’s best value schools for nursing students working on their graduate certificate. University of Saint Francis is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Joliet.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at University of Saint Francis are $13,839 per year.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, University of Saint Francis also did well on our Best Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full Nursing at University of St Francis Report
Request Information
Briar Cliff University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in the small city of Sioux City, Briar Cliff is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Briar Cliff are $10,530 per year.
Request Information
Chamberlain University - Illinois ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools list. Chamberlain - Illinois is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the large suburb of Addison.
Out-of-state tuition fees for graduate students at Chamberlain - Illinois are $14,090 per year.
Request Information
Illinois State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #25 on the list. Illinois State is a very large public school located in the midsize suburb of Normal.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state graduate students at Illinois State are $11,773 a year.
Full Nursing at Illinois State University Report
Request InformationRest of the Top Best Value Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools
Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College | Saint Louis, MO |
| 42 | Research College of Nursing | Kansas City, MO |
| 43 | Cedar Crest College | Allentown, PA |
| 44 | Saint Joseph’s College of Maine | Standish, ME |
| 45 | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | San Antonio, TX |
| 46 | Seattle University | Seattle, WA |
| 47 | Xavier University | Cincinnati, OH |
| 48 | Bradley University | Peoria, IL |
| 49 | Purdue University Northwest | Hammond, IN |
| 50 | California State University - Dominguez Hills | Carson, CA |
| 51 | Anderson University South Carolina | Anderson, SC |
| 52 | Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, IL |
| 53 | California State University - Long Beach | Long Beach, CA |
| 54 | Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions | Provo, UT |
Nursing by Region
View the Best Value Nursing Graduate Certificate Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Nursing Rankings
Majors Related to Nursing
Nursing is one of 30 different types of programs to choose from.
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 89,359 |
| Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services | 84,492 |
| Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 84,274 |
| Allied Health Professions | 82,308 |
| Public Health | 40,596 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.