2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region
With all the nursing programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Also, there are a number of trade schools and bootcamp with offerings that you might find attractive.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Nursing Degree Search has created its Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 463 schools in the Southeast Region to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Wake Forest University the best school in the Southeast Region for nursing students working on their degree.
On average, students take out $17,222 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $644 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Wake Forest University graduates make an average of $55,309 annually.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Vanderbilt University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region list.
Degree recipients from Vanderbilt accumulate an average of $14,392 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $644, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Vanderbilt graduates make an average of $66,962 annually.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Duke University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,762 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $727, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Duke graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $71,290 during the early year of their career.
Out of the 463 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Virginia - Main Campus landed the # 4 spot on the list.
On average, students take out $18,266 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $383 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from University of Virginia, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $58,809 during the early years of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Florida. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region list.
On average, students take out $18,875 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $207, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UF graduates make an average of $51,332 annually.
Trident Technical College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region ranking.
Degree recipients from Trident Technical College accumulate an average of $23,521 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Trident Technical College graduates make an average of $33,465 annually.
Emory University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,081 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $526, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Emory graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $56,204 during the early year of their career.
Rasmussen University - Florida landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
Degree recipients from Rasmussen University - Florida accumulate an average of $30,604 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $127 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Rasmussen University - Florida graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,940 during the early year of their career.
University of Mary Washington ranked #9 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,222 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $371, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UMW graduates make an average of $38,573 annually.
Herzing University - Birmingham landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
Degree recipients from Herzing University - Birmingham accumulate an average of $33,541 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $107 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Herzing University - Birmingham, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,963 during the early years of their career.
Auburn University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,004 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $582 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Auburn, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $49,769 during the early years of their career.
Virginia Commonwealth University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #12 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,106 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $227.After graduating from VCU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $47,786 during the early years of their career.
James Madison University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #13 on the list.
Degree recipients from JMU accumulate an average of $20,564 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $394, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from JMU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,195 during the early years of their career.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
Degree recipients from UNC Chapel Hill accumulate an average of $16,358 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $300, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UNC Chapel Hill, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $51,808 during the early years of their career.
Samford University landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
On average, students take out $21,711 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $518, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Samford graduates make an average of $55,075 annually.
With a ranking of #16, University of Arkansas did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,930 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $332. During the early years of their career, UARK graduates make an average of $47,670 annually.
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region ranking.
On average, students take out $22,232 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $325 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UT Knoxville graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,189 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #18, University of Florida-Online did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
On average, students take out $19,514 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $208.After graduating from UF Online, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,889 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #19, University of North Carolina at Charlotte did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
On average, students take out $24,912 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $193 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UNC Charlotte, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $46,346 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on University of North Carolina at Charlotte
With a ranking of #20, Jefferson Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
Degree recipients from Jefferson Community and Technical College accumulate an average of $18,344 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Jefferson Community and Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,170 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Jefferson Community and Technical College
University of North Carolina at Greensboro came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,759 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $174 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UNC Greensboro, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,140 during the early years of their career.
University of South Florida - Main Campus landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs.
On average, students take out $24,223 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $177, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from USF Tampa, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,747 during the early years of their career.
Augusta University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region list.
Degree recipients from Augusta University accumulate an average of $27,317 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $127. Once they receive their degree, Augusta University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,810 during the early year of their career.
East Carolina University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #24 on the list.
On average, students take out $24,531 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $277, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from ECU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,403 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #25, Georgia Southern University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working.
Degree recipients from GaSou accumulate an average of $26,115 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $166 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from GaSou, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,176 during the early years of their career.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Rest of the Top 15% Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region of the U.S.
To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Athens Technical College | Athens, GA |
| 52 | Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA |
| 53 | The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga | Chattanooga, TN |
| 54 | Louisiana Tech University | Ruston, LA |
| 55 | American Public University System | Charles Town, WV |
| 56 | Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, NC |
| 57 | Coastal Pines Technical College | Waycross, GA |
| 58 | Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville, NC |
| 59 | North Carolina Central University | Durham, NC |
| 60 | King University | Bristol, TN |
| 61 | McNeese State University | Lake Charles, LA |
| 62 | Albany State University | Albany, GA |
| 63 | University of Kentucky | Lexington, KY |
| 64 | Oconee Fall Line Technical College | Sandersville, GA |
| 65 | University of Memphis | Memphis, TN |
| 66 | Piedmont College | Demorest, GA |
| 67 | Georgia State University-Perimeter College | Atlanta, GA |
| 68 | LaGrange College | Lagrange, GA |
| 69 | Radford University | Radford, VA |
| 70 | University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg, VA |
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best nursing schools ranking:
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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