2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
Finding the Best Nursing Associate Degree School for You
Nursing is the most popular major in the United States with 77,470 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021.
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for nursing students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 305 schools in the Southeast Region to see which associate degree programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school is, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Colleges.
Top 25 Top Southeast Region Schools for an Associate in Nursing
Our analysis found Standard Healthcare Services - College of Nursing to be the best school for nursing students who want to pursue a associate degree in the Southeast Region . Located in the large suburb of Falls Church, Standard College of Nursing is a private for-profit college with a small student population.
On average, nursing graduates from Standard College of Nursing take out $30,701 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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Out of the 305 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Trident Technical College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Trident Technical College is a large public school located in the medium-sized city of Charleston.
While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Trident Technical College accumulate an average of around $29,278 in student debt.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rasmussen University - Florida. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the city of Ocala, Rasmussen University - Florida is a private for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.
After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Rasmussen University - Florida carry an average student debtload of $32,326. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $175.
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The excellent associate degree programs at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Southeast Region . Cabarrus College of Health Sciences is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Concord.
After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Cabarrus College of Health Sciences carry an average student debtload of $26,962.
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The excellent associate degree programs at Eastern Virginia Career College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Southeast Region . Eastern Virginia Career College is a small private for-profit school located in the midsize suburb of Fredericksburg.
After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Eastern Virginia Career College carry an average student debtload of $26,429.
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Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay ranked #6 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the city of Saint Petersburg, Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Nursing majors at Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay take out an average of $35,636 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $111.
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Carolinas College of Health Sciences ranked #7 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the large city of Charlotte, Carolinas College of Health Sciences is a public school with a small student population.
While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Carolinas College of Health Sciences accumulate an average of around $25,047 in student debt.
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With a ranking of #8, Centra College of Nursing did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Centra College of Nursing is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Lynchburg.
While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Centra College of Nursing accumulate an average of around $24,398 in student debt.
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Herzing University - Birmingham came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Herzing University - Birmingham is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Birmingham.
While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Herzing University - Birmingham accumulate an average of around $35,162 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $107.
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Baptist Health College - Little Rock did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the midsize city of Little Rock, BHCLR is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from BHCLR carry an average student debtload of $26,388. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $87.
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Galen College of Nursing - Louisville did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #11 on the list. Galen College of Nursing - Louisville is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Louisville.
On average, nursing graduates from Galen College of Nursing - Louisville take out $35,636 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $111.
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Riverside College of Health Careers came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Riverside College of Health Careers is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Newport News.
After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Riverside College of Health Careers carry an average student debtload of $29,751.
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Herzing University - Winter Park landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Herzing University - Winter Park is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Nursing majors at Herzing University - Winter Park take out an average of $35,162 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $107.
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Polk State College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Polk State is a medium-sized public school located in the small city of Winter Haven.
On average, nursing graduates from Polk State take out $19,264 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations ranked #15 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. ANHO is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of West Palm Beach.
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Southside College of Health Sciences came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the large suburb of Colonial Heights, Southside College of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Nursing majors at Southside College of Health Sciences take out an average of $22,770 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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With a ranking of #17, Southern Regional Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Southwest Georgia Technical College is a small public school located in the distant town of Thomasville.
After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Southwest Georgia Technical College carry an average student debtload of $13,212.
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West Coast University-Miami did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in the city of Doral, West Coast University-Miami is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
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Galen College of Nursing - ARH did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #19 on the list. Galen College of Nursing - ARH is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the town of Hazard.
While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Galen College of Nursing - ARH accumulate an average of around $35,636 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $111.
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Albany State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #20 on the list. Albany State is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Albany.
On average, nursing graduates from Albany State take out $27,530 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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Western Kentucky University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the small city of Bowling Green, WKU is a public college with a large student population.
On average, nursing graduates from WKU take out $25,980 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the town of Tifton, ABAC Tifton is a public school with a small student population.
After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from ABAC Tifton carry an average student debtload of $22,659.
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With a ranking of #23, Athens Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Athens Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Athens.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Athens Technical College take out while working on their Associate Degree is $16,282.
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With a ranking of #24, Louisiana Tech University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Louisiana Tech is a large public school located in the distant town of Ruston.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Louisiana Tech take out while working on their Associate Degree is $21,122.
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Middle Georgia State University landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Located in the city of Macon, Middle Georgia State University is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Middle Georgia State University accumulate an average of around $24,963 in student debt.
Full Nursing at Middle Georgia State University Report
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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 Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 46 | Gwinnett Institute | Orlando, FL |
| 47 | Coastal Alabama Community College | Bay Minette, AL |
| 48 | SOWELA Technical Community College | Lake Charles, LA |
| 49 | Arkansas State University - Main Campus | Jonesboro, AR |
| 50 | Oconee Fall Line Technical College | Sandersville, GA |
| 51 | Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte, NC |
| 52 | Southeastern College-West Palm Beach | West Palm Beach, FL |
| 53 | HCI College | West Palm Beach, FL |
| 54 | Rappahannock Community College | Glenns, VA |
| 55 | Palm Beach State College | Lake Worth, FL |
| 56 | St Petersburg College | Clearwater, FL |
| 57 | Florida State College at Jacksonville | Jacksonville, FL |
| 58 | Georgia Highlands College | Rome, GA |
| 59 | Miami Regional University | Miami Springs, FL |
| 60 | West Georgia Technical College | Waco, GA |
| 61 | Thomas Nelson Community College | Hampton, VA |
Best Nursing Colleges by State
Explore the best nursing schools for a specific state in the Southeast region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 7,364 |
| Kentucky | 6,395 |
| Tennessee | 6,004 |
| Louisiana | 3,502 |
| Mississippi | 2,838 |
| Florida | 21,209 |
| Arkansas | 2,882 |
| North Carolina | 7,425 |
| West Virginia | 1,771 |
| Georgia | 7,112 |
| South Carolina | 3,296 |
| Virginia | 6,775 |
More Nursing Rankings in the Southeast Region
Rankings in Majors Related to Nursing
Nursing Concentrations
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 266,651 |
| Family Practice Nurse/Nursing | 16,104 |
| Nursing Administration | 9,838 |
| Nursing Practice | 7,992 |
| Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 5,092 |
| Nursing Science | 4,600 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing | 2,287 |
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing | 2,021 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 1,936 |
| Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing | 1,883 |
| Critical Care Nursing | 773 |
| Geriatric Nurse/Nursing | 563 |
| School Nursing | 553 |
| Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery | 509 |
| Clinical Nurse Leader | 444 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist | 419 |
| Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing | 331 |
| Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing | 181 |
| Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing | 57 |
| Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing | 53 |
| Palliative Care Nursing | 14 |
| Forensic Nursing | 14 |
Most Popular Majors Related to Nursing
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 84,274 |
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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Aleksahgabrielle.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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