Find Nursing Colleges

What Do You Want to Study?

Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region

Find Schools Near

2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region

299 Colleges
$34,824 Avg Salary
$11,441 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants School for You

In 2021-2022, 85,339 practical nursing & nursing assistants students received a degree or certificate, making the major the #2 most popular in the country.

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 & nursing assistants students. Located in the 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.

Read More…

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.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Suncoast Technical College Report

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 small public school located in the rural area of Leroy.

Read More…

#4

ATA College

Louisville, KY

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend ATA College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the suburb of Louisville, ATA College is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from ATA College carry an average student debtload of $23,938.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at ATA College

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.

Read More…

Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing-Plantation General Hospital came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Mercy Hospital School of Practical Nursing-Plantation General Hospital is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Miami.

Read More…

North Florida Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. It came in at #7 on the list. North Florida Technical College is a small public school located in the distant town of Starke.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at North Florida Technical College

With a ranking of #8, Cape Coral Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. Located in the midsize city of Cape Coral, Cape Coral Technical College is a public school with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Cape Coral Technical College

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 small city of Ocala, Rasmussen University - Florida is a private for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Rasmussen University - Florida take out $14,167 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $141, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#10

John D Rockefeller IV Career Center

New Cumberland, WV

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

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

Herzing University - Birmingham ranked #11 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region list. Herzing University - Birmingham is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Birmingham.

Practical Nursing majors at Herzing University - Birmingham take out an average of $14,375 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

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

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Academy for Careers and Technology Report

#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 $14,750.

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

Medical Institute of Palm Beach did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Greenacres, Medical Institute of Palm Beach is a private for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Medical Institute of Palm Beach Report

Orange Technical College - Orlando Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. It came in at #15 on the list. OTC Orlando is a small public school located in the city of Orlando.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Orange Technical College - Orlando Campus Report

With a ranking of #16, Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater did quite well on this year’s best schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. Located in the large suburb of Clearwater, Pinellas Technical Education Center-Clearwater is a public school with a small student population.

Read More…

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

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Jefferson Community and Technical College carry an average student debtload of $7,961.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Jefferson Community and Technical College Report

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

The average amount in student loans that practical nursing majors at BHCLR take out is $9,500.

Read More…

Herzing University - Winter Park ranked #19 on this year’s Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Herzing University - Winter Park is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

After completing their degree, practical nursing graduates from Herzing University - Winter Park carry an average student debtload of $14,375.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Herzing University - Winter Park Report

#20

First Coast Technical College

Saint Augustine, FL

First Coast Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for practical nursing & nursing assistants students. It came in at #20 on the list. First Coast Technical College is a small public school located in the suburb of Saint Augustine.

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at First Coast Technical College

Galen College of Nursing - Louisville landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best practical nursing & nursing assistants programs. Galen College of Nursing - Louisville is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Louisville.

While working on their degree, practical nursing majors at Galen College of Nursing - Louisville accumulate an average of around $15,800 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $131, 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 came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing & Nursing Assistants Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Centra College of Nursing is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg.

On average, practical nursing graduates from Centra College of Nursing take out $9,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

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

Read full report on Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Mercer County Technical Education Center

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 suburb of Oak Hill, Fayette Plateau Vocational Technical Center is a public college with a fairly small student population.

Read More…

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 fairly small public school located in the town of Buckhannon.

Full Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants at Fred W Eberle Technical Center Report

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 & 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 45,031
Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide 35,655
Other Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants 4,653

Related Major Annual Graduates
Nursing 319,502

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.

Find Nursing Schools Near You

Our free matching tool for schools matches students with nursing schools across the U.S.