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2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region

299 Colleges
$34,880 Avg Salary
$14,590 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants School for You

With 84,274 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, practical nursing and nursing assistants is the #2 most popular major in the United States.

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which nursing program is right for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 299 schools in the Southeast Region to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for practical nursing majors pursuing a .

Top 25 Top Southeast Region Schools in Nursing & Nursing Assistants

Our 2023 rankings named Standard Healthcare Services - College of Nursing the best school in the Southeast Region for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the large suburb of Falls Church, Standard College of Nursing is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Standard College of Nursing accumulate an average of around $14,750 in student debt.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Standard Healthcare Services - College of Nursing Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Suncoast Technical College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region list. Suncoast Technical College is a small public school located in the suburb of Sarasota.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Roane-Jackson Technical Center. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region list. Roane-Jackson Technical Center is a fairly small public school located in the rural area of Leroy.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Roane-Jackson Technical Center Report

#4

ATA College

Louisville, KY

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend ATA College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the suburb of Louisville, ATA College is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at ATA College take out is $30,122.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at ATA College Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Monongalia County Technical Education Center. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the small city of Morgantown, MTEC is a public school with a fairly small student population.

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With a ranking of #6, Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing-Plantation General Hospital did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing-Plantation General Hospital is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Miami.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing-Plantation General Hospital accumulate an average of around $10,584 in student debt.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing-Plantation General Hospital

North Florida Technical College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. North Florida Technical College is a fairly small public school located in the town of Starke.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at North Florida Technical College Report

Cape Coral Technical College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the midsize city of Cape Coral, Cape Coral Technical College is a public college with a small student population.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Cape Coral Technical College Report

Rasmussen University - Florida came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the city of Ocala, Rasmussen University - Florida is a private for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Rasmussen University - Florida carry an average student debtload of $20,833. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $121, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

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#10

John D Rockefeller IV Career Center

New Cumberland, WV

John D Rockefeller IV Career Center did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #10 on the list. John D Rockefeller IV Career Center is a small public school located in the rural area of New Cumberland.

Practical Nursing majors at John D Rockefeller IV Career Center take out an average of $16,560 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at John D Rockefeller IV Career Center

Herzing University - Birmingham did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #11 on the list. Herzing University - Birmingham is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Birmingham.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Herzing University - Birmingham take out $19,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Herzing University - Birmingham

Academy for Careers and Technology did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #12 on the list. Academy for Careers and Technology is a fairly small public school located in the rural area of Mullins.

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#13

Eastern Virginia Career College

Fredericksburg, VA

Eastern Virginia Career College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region list. Eastern Virginia Career College is a small private for-profit school located in the medium-sized suburb of Fredericksburg.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Eastern Virginia Career College carry an average student debtload of $20,054.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Eastern Virginia Career College

Medical Institute of Palm Beach landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the large suburb of Greenacres, Medical Institute of Palm Beach is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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Orange Technical College - Orlando Campus ranked #15 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region list. OTC Orlando is a small public school located in the city of Orlando.

On average, practical nursing graduates from OTC Orlando take out $10,790 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Orange Technical College - Orlando Campus

Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater ranked #16 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the suburb of Clearwater, Pinellas Technical Education Center-Clearwater is a public school with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Pinellas Technical Education Center-Clearwater take out is $14,162.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater

Jefferson Community and Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #17 on the list. Jefferson Community and Technical College is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Louisville.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Jefferson Community and Technical College take out $16,579 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Jefferson Community and Technical College

With a ranking of #18, Baptist Health College - Little Rock did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Located in the city of Little Rock, BHCLR is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at BHCLR take out an average of $21,410 in student loans while working on their egree.

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Herzing University - Winter Park landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. Located in the large suburb of Winter Park, Herzing University - Winter Park is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at Herzing University - Winter Park take out an average of $19,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#20

First Coast Technical College

Saint Augustine, FL

First Coast Technical College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing and nursing assistants programs. First Coast Technical College is a fairly small public school located in the small suburb of Saint Augustine.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at First Coast Technical College accumulate an average of around $15,627 in student debt.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at First Coast Technical College Report

With a ranking of #21, Galen College of Nursing - Louisville did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. Galen College of Nursing - Louisville is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Louisville.

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at Galen College of Nursing - Louisville take out is $16,353. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $107, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Galen College of Nursing - Louisville Report

#22

Centra College of Nursing

Lynchburg, VA

Centra College of Nursing did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #22 on the list. Centra College of Nursing is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg.

Practical Nursing majors at Centra College of Nursing take out an average of $13,052 in student loans while working on their egree.

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Mercer County Technical Education Center did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing and nursing assistants students. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in the distant town of Princeton, Mercer County Technical Education Center is a public school with a fairly small student population.

Practical Nursing majors at Mercer County Technical Education Center take out an average of $10,021 in student loans while working on their egree.

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Fayette Institute of Technology came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the small suburb of Oak Hill, Fayette Plateau Vocational Technical Center is a public college with a small student population.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Fayette Institute of Technology

Fred W Eberle Technical Center ranked #25 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region list. Fred W Eberle Technical Center is a small public school located in the town of Buckhannon.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Fred W Eberle Technical Center accumulate an average of around $8,750 in student debt.

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Rest of the Top Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region

#27

Garnet Career Center

Charleston, WV
#30

Emerald Coast Technical College

DeFuniak Springs, FL
#32

Northwest Technical Institute

Springdale, AR
#33

MedQuest College

Louisville, KY
#34

Trident Technical College

Charleston, SC
#38

Taylor College

Belleview, FL
#39

Charlotte Technical College

Port Charlotte, FL
#44

Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay

Saint Petersburg, FL

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region award.

Rank College Location
45 Infinity College Lafayette, LA
46 Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Shelbyville Shelbyville, TN
47 Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg Saint Petersburg, FL
48 Cambridge Institute of Allied Health & Technology Altamonte Springs, FL
49 Lake Technical College Eustis, FL
50 Bevill State Community College Jasper, AL
50 Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Pulaski Pulaski, TN
52 ECPI University Virginia Beach, VA
53 Lorenzo Walker Technical College Naples, FL
54 Southeastern College-West Palm Beach West Palm Beach, FL
55 Athens Technical College Athens, GA
56 Traviss Technical College Lakeland, FL
57 South Louisiana Community College Lafayette, LA
58 Fort Myers Technical College Fort Myers, FL
59 Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Dickson Dickson, TN

Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants Colleges by State

Explore the best practical nursing and nursing assistants schools for a specific state in the Southeast region.

State Degrees Awarded
Alabama 15
Kentucky 47
Tennessee 14
Louisiana 21
Mississippi 0
Florida 0
Arkansas 31

Practical Nursing Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training 44,900
Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide 34,557
Other Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants 4,817

Related Major Annual Graduates
Nursing 322,592

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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