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 analysis found Wake Forest University to be the best school for nursing students in the Southeast Region . Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,979 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $78,115 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $702 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.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Vanderbilt University is a great place for nursing students. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 5,142 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $47,515 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $760, 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.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Duke University is a great place for nursing students. Duke is a private not-for-profit institution located in Durham, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 6,863 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Duke accumulate an average of $79,632 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $591, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Duke, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $71,290 during the early years of their career.
The excellent programs at University of Virginia - Main Campus helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Southeast Region . Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, the large public school awarded 9,615 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $37,812 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $490, assuming you 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. University of Florida is a large public school located in Gainesville, Florida that handed out 18,084 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $34,570 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $218, 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 ranked #6 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in Charleston, South Carolina, the fairly large public school handed out 2,581 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Trident Technical College accumulate an average of $15,991 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Trident Technical College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $33,465 during the early years of their career.
Emory University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #7 on the list. Emory is a private not-for-profit institution located in Atlanta, Georgia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5,171 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $69,919 in loans while pursuing 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.
Rasmussen University - Florida did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in Ocala, Florida, the medium-sized private for-profit school handed out 4,205 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,566 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $168, assuming you 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 came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Fredericksburg, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,235 students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,693 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $446, 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 came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Herzing University - Birmingham is located in Birmingham, Alabama and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 245 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,096 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $163 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Herzing University - Birmingham graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,963 during the early year of their career.
Auburn University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #11 on the list. Auburn is a large public school situated in Auburn, Alabama. It awarded 8,117 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Auburn accumulate an average of $35,740 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 $668 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Auburn graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $49,769 during the early year of their career.
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. VCU is a public institution located in Richmond, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7,707 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $41,101 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $280, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.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 ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, the large public school awarded 5,530 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,949 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $449 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, JMU graduates make an average of $46,195 annually.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. UNC Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 9,997 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $46,657 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $367. Once they receive their degree, UNC Chapel Hill graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $51,808 during the early year of their career.
Read full report on University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Samford University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #15 on the list. Samford is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Birmingham, Alabama. It awarded 1,733 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $54,355 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $790, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Samford, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $55,075 during the early years of their career.
University of Arkansas came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. UARK is a public institution located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7,274 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $26,068 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $409. Once they receive their degree, UARK graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $47,670 during the early year of their career.
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #17 on the list. UT Knoxville is located in Knoxville, Tennessee and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 8,049 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $30,221 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $410 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UT Knoxville, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,189 during the early years of their career.
University of Florida-Online came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. UF Online is a medium-sized public school situated in Gainesville, Florida. It awarded 834 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $16,938 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $236 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UF Online graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,889 during the early year of their career.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, the large public school handed out 8,666 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UNC Charlotte accumulate an average of $27,611 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $223, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UNC Charlotte graduates make an average of $46,346 annually.
Read full report on University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Jefferson Community and Technical College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Jefferson Community and Technical College is a fairly large public school situated in Louisville, Kentucky. It awarded 4,096 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,442 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Jefferson Community and Technical College graduates make an average of $38,170 annually.
Read full report on Jefferson Community and Technical College
With a ranking of #21, University of North Carolina at Greensboro did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a fairly large public school located in Greensboro, North Carolina that handed out 4,805 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from UNC Greensboro accumulate an average of $26,331 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 $180 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 came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. USF Tampa is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14,285 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from USF Tampa accumulate an average of $30,630 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $205, 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 came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Augusta University is a public institution located in Augusta, Georgia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,543 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $45,031 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, Augusta University graduates make an average of $53,810 annually.
With a ranking of #24, East Carolina University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. ECU is located in Greenville, North Carolina and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 6,984 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $34,057 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $296 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, ECU graduates make an average of $44,403 annually.
With a ranking of #25, Georgia Southern University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working. Located in Statesboro, Georgia, the large public school awarded 5,669 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,723 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $196.After graduating from GaSou, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,176 during the early years of their career.
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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.
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