2023 Best Nursing Schools in Georgia
It's not easy to decide which nursing program to enroll in when you have so many options available. 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 Georgia ranking. This report analyzed 45 schools in Georgia to see which ones offered the best programs for nursing students.
View our full ranking methodology.
Top Nursing Schools in Georgia
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Emory University the best school in Georgia for nursing students working on their degree. Emory is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Atlanta, Georgia. It awarded 5,171 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Emory accumulate an average of $69,919 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 $569. Once they receive their degree, Emory graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $56,204 during the early year of their career.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Augusta University is a great place for nursing students. Located in Augusta, Georgia, the medium-sized public school awarded 2,543 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $45,031 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $207 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. 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.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Georgia Southern University is a great place for nursing students. Statesboro, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 5,669 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from GaSou accumulate an average of $29,723 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $196, assuming you 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.
Out of the 45 schools in Georgia that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Georgia landed the # 4 spot on the list. Dahlonega, Georgia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 3,274 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,895 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $175. During the early years of their career, UNG graduates make an average of $39,583 annually.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is a great place for nursing students. ABAC Tifton is located in Tifton, Georgia and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 667 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,912 in student loans. During the early years of their career, ABAC Tifton graduates make an average of $33,510 annually.
Athens Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #6 on the list. This small public school is located in Athens, Georgia, and it awarded 1,821 degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Athens Technical College graduates make an average of $36,013 annually.
Georgia College & State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Georgia ranking. Located in Milledgeville, Georgia, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,888 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $25,879 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $245, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Georgia College graduates make an average of $43,972 annually.
Coastal Pines Technical College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Georgia ranking. Located in Waycross, Georgia, the small public school handed out 1,478 degrees in 2021-2022.
After graduating from Coastal Pines Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $31,156 during the early years of their career.
Albany State University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Albany State University is a medium-sized public school located in Albany, Georgia that handed out 1,448 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $29,042 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $154 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Albany State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,086 during the early year of their career.
Oconee Fall Line Technical College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Georgia list. OFTC is located in Sandersville, Georgia and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,134 degrees to qualified students.
During the early years of their career, OFTC graduates make an average of $31,787 annually.
With a ranking of #11, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is located in Valdosta, Georgia and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,017 degrees to qualified students.
During the early years of their career, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College graduates make an average of $29,345 annually.
Chattahoochee Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #12 on the list. This medium-sized public school is located in Marietta, Georgia, and it awarded 4,752 degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Chattahoochee Technical College graduates make an average of $32,868 annually.
Southern Regional Technical College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Georgia list. This small public school is located in Thomasville, Georgia, and it awarded 1,575 degrees in 2021-2022.
After graduating from Southwest Georgia Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $28,621 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #14, Georgia State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Georgia State is located in Atlanta, Georgia and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 8,351 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $33,906 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $163, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Georgia State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,507 during the early year of their career.
Mercer University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #15 on the list. Macon, Georgia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out degrees to 2,845 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $57,393 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $366.After graduating from Mercer, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $51,041 during the early years of their career.
Middle Georgia State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Georgia list. Macon, Georgia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,573 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,212 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $228. During the early years of their career, Middle Georgia State University graduates make an average of $39,130 annually.
With a ranking of #17, Lanier Technical College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Lanier Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in Gainesville, Georgia that handed out 1,815 degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, Lanier Technical College graduates make an average of $33,571 annually.
Central Georgia Technical College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #18 on the list. CGTC is a public institution located in Warner Robins, Georgia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 4,744 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $9,228 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, CGTC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $28,707 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #19, University of West Georgia did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. University of West Georgia is located in Carrollton, Georgia and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3,098 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $26,169 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $201, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, University of West Georgia graduates make an average of $42,087 annually.
Kennesaw State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Georgia ranking. KSU Georgia is a public institution located in Kennesaw, Georgia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7,682 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,695 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $285 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from KSU Georgia, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $49,284 during the early years of their career.
Georgia Highlands College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in Georgia list. GHC is a public institution located in Rome, Georgia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 885 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from GHC accumulate an average of $14,583 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, GHC graduates make an average of $51,188 annually.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in Rome, Georgia, the medium-sized public school handed out 3,233 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $7,523 in student loans.After graduating from Georgia Northwestern Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,809 during the early years of their career.
Georgia Southwestern State University landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. GSW is located in Americus, Georgia and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 768 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,212 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, GSW graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,516 during the early year of their career.
South Georgia State College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in Georgia ranking. South Georgia State College is a public institution located in Douglas, Georgia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 374 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $17,641 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, South Georgia State College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,451 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #25, Brenau University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Brenau is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Gainesville, Georgia. It awarded 753 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $51,576 in student loans.After graduating from Brenau, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,843 during the early years of their career.
Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region
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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.