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.
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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 2023 rankings named Standard Healthcare Services - College of Nursing the best school in the Southeast Region for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the suburb of Falls Church, Standard College of Nursing is a private for-profit school 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.
Full Nursing at Standard Healthcare Services - College of Nursing Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Trident Technical College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region 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.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Rasmussen University - Florida. The school came in at #3 on this year’s 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 moderately-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.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cabarrus College of Health Sciences. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. 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.
Out of the 305 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Eastern Virginia Career College landed the # 5 spot on the list. Eastern Virginia Career College is a fairly 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.
Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the large city of Saint Petersburg, Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay is a private for-profit college 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.
Read full report on Nursing at Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay
Carolinas College of Health Sciences did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the large city of Charlotte, Carolinas College of Health Sciences is a public school with a fairly 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.
Read full report on Nursing at Carolinas College of Health Sciences
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 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.
Herzing University - Birmingham ranked #9 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. 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.
Read full report on Nursing at Herzing University - Birmingham
With a ranking of #10, Baptist Health College - Little Rock did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the medium-sized city of Little Rock, BHCLR is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly 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.
With a ranking of #11, Galen College of Nursing - Louisville did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. 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.
Riverside College of Health Careers did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #12 on the list. Riverside College of Health Careers is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the 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.
Read full report on Nursing at Riverside College of Health Careers
Herzing University - Winter Park ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Herzing University - Winter Park is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly 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.
Polk State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get a associate degree. It came in at #14 on the list. Polk State is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Winter Haven.
On average, nursing graduates from Polk State take out $19,264 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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 small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Palm Beach.
With a ranking of #16, Southside College of Health Sciences did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the suburb of Colonial Heights, Southside College of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly 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.
Southern Regional Technical College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. 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.
West Coast University-Miami landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Located in the city of Doral, West Coast University-Miami is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Galen College of Nursing - ARH landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Galen College of Nursing - ARH is a 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.
With a ranking of #20, Albany State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Albany State is a medium-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.
With a ranking of #21, Western Kentucky University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. 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.
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Located in the distant 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.
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 medium-sized 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.
Louisiana Tech University landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. 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.
With a ranking of #25, Middle Georgia State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the medium-sized city of Macon, Middle Georgia State University is a public college 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.
Rest of the Top Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
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 |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | 3,502 |
| Mississippi | 2,838 |
| Alabama | 7,364 |
| Kentucky | 6,395 |
| Tennessee | 6,004 |
| Florida | 21,209 |
| Arkansas | 2,882 |
| Georgia | 7,112 |
| North Carolina | 7,425 |
| West Virginia | 1,771 |
| 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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