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Cheapest Registered Nursing Colleges

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

St Petersburg College in Florida actually pays students to earn their nursing degree, with a net cost of negative $52 that reflects substantial financial aid packages exceeding tuition costs. This unusual financial arrangement contrasts sharply with other affordable programs on this list, where costs range from $200 at Colegio Universitario de San Juan to $4,039 at the upper end. Public institutions dominate the most affordable nursing education market, with 14 of the 15 cheapest programs operating as state-supported colleges. The nursing job market across these regions benefits from growing healthcare demands, particularly in Florida and Texas where multiple affordable programs concentrate. CUNY schools like Hunter College and Lehman College produce graduates earning over $94,000 annually, demonstrating that low-cost education can lead to high-paying careers in nursing administration and clinical research roles. Florida community colleges maintain particularly strong pipelines into the state's large healthcare systems, while Texas programs serve border regions with unique bilingual nursing needs.
50
Programs
$-52 – $5,825
Net Price Range
$60,182
Avg. Program Earnings
44.3%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $-52 $2,682 37.5%
2 $200 $2,340 30.1% 98.5%
3 $832 $3,120 61.3%
4 $1,113 $6,627 95.7%
5 $1,291 $4,920 27.6%
6 $1,799 $3,054 63.5%
7 $2,254 $2,348 42.0%
8 $2,339 $2,370 44.8%
9 $2,446 $7,382 61.0% 47.9%
10 $2,760 $2,878 32.4%
11 $2,879 $6,560 54.9%
12 $2,915 $3,100 56.6%
13 $3,061 $7,846 48.9% 47.9%
14 $3,119 $3,227 42.0%
15 $3,482 $7,410 49.3% 55.3%
16 $3,486 $7,340 54.7% 66.6%
17 $3,613 $4,420 30.6%
18 $3,645 $7,630 62.0%
19 $3,659 $7,064 46.9% 89.1%
20 $4,039 $7,630 74.3%
21 $4,113 $6,813 52.6% 86.9%
22 $4,142 $7,630 70.8%
23 $4,181 $7,314 53.9%
24 $4,285 $5,986 37.9% 80.4%
25 $4,443 $3,165 51.1%
26 $4,483 $49,326 62.0% 24.6%
27 $4,496 $7,050 37.3% 90.1%
28 $4,503 $6,178 20.0%
29 $4,694 $3,283 29.6%
30 $4,702 $3,876 77.7% 64.6%
31 $4,704 $6,970 52.2%
32 $4,734 $7,358 30.3% 59.1%
33 $4,783 $7,332 19.4% 81.8%
34 $4,984 $2,910 20.1%
35 $4,989 $7,050 23.6% 39.6%
36 $5,115 $7,490 32.8%
37 $5,144 $2,570 20.7%
38 $5,154 $3,155 42.9%
39 $5,202 $2,764 42.5%
40 $5,216 $6,400 32.6%
41 $5,309 $3,300 30.5%
42 $5,328 $6,178 19.3%
43 $5,458 $3,148 26.8%
44 $5,554 $3,246 42.9%
45 $5,646 $7,073 69.2% 66.7%
46 $5,671 $7,826 58.0% 96.6%
47 $5,732 $8,054 56.2%
48 $5,742 $3,292 44.7%
49 $5,808 $2,830 45.7%
50 $5,825 $7,696 49.3% 86.6%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes St Petersburg College's nursing program financially unique compared to other affordable options?

St Petersburg College reports a net cost of negative $52, meaning students receive more in financial aid than they pay in educational expenses. This contrasts with the next cheapest program at Colegio Universitario de San Juan, which costs $200 annually. Despite this unusual cost structure, St Petersburg College graduates earn $65,512 annually with relatively low debt loads of $15,578.

How do graduation rates vary among the most affordable nursing programs?

Graduation rates span from 27.6% at South Texas College to 63.5% at North Florida College, showing significant variation even among similarly priced programs. Florida colleges generally perform better, with North Florida College at 63.5% and Chipola College at 61.3%. Community colleges typically see lower completion rates due to part-time enrollment patterns, though some like North Florida College achieve rates comparable to four-year institutions.

Is there a significant earnings difference between the cheapest and most expensive programs in this range?

CUNY Lehman College graduates earn $95,348 annually despite a net cost of only $3,482, while Colegio Universitario de San Juan graduates earn $20,140 with a $200 net cost. This $75,000 earnings gap reflects regional job markets, with New York nursing salaries significantly higher than Puerto Rico. The investment return varies dramatically, with some programs offering 27-to-1 annual earnings ratios over educational costs.

Does geographic location affect both costs and career outcomes for nursing students?

Florida dominates the cheapest nursing programs with 7 schools, offering consistently low costs between $832 and $2,915 annually. New York's CUNY system provides moderate costs around $2,400 to $3,400 but delivers the highest graduate earnings at $94,000 to $95,000. Regional healthcare job markets directly influence these outcomes, with metropolitan areas typically offering higher salaries that justify slightly higher educational investments.

What debt levels can students expect from these affordable nursing programs?

Student debt remains remarkably low across these programs, ranging from $8,062 at Pensacola State College to $16,558 at Seminole State College. Most programs keep average debt under $13,500, reflecting the affordability focus of community colleges and state institutions. Texas A&M University-Central Texas manages debt levels of just $12,500 while maintaining a 95.71% acceptance rate, making nursing education accessible to most applicants.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.