2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
Finding the Best Nursing Associate Degree School for You
In 2020-2021, 322,592 degrees and certificates were awarded to nursing students, making the major the most popular in the country.
It's not easy to decide which healthcare 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. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
The Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking is one of many tools that Healthcare Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 305 schools in the Southeast Region to see which ones offered the best associate degree programs for healthcare 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. Standard College of Nursing is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Falls Church.
After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Standard College of Nursing carry an average student debtload of $30,701.
Read full report on Nursing at Standard Healthcare Services - College of Nursing
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Trident Technical College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the medium-sized city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a public school with a fairly large student population.
On average, nursing graduates from Trident Technical College take out $29,278 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
Out of the 305 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Rasmussen University - Florida landed the # 3 spot on the list. Rasmussen University - Florida is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Ocala.
Nursing majors at Rasmussen University - Florida take out an average of $32,326 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $175.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Cabarrus College of Health Sciences is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the midsize city of Concord, Cabarrus College of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
Nursing majors at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences take out an average of $26,962 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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 . Located in the midsize suburb of Fredericksburg, Eastern Virginia Career College is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
Nursing majors at Eastern Virginia Career College take out an average of $26,429 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of Saint Petersburg.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay take out while working on their Associate Degree is $35,636. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $111.
Read full report on Nursing at Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay
Carolinas College of Health Sciences landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Carolinas College of Health Sciences is a fairly small public school located in the large city of Charlotte.
On average, nursing graduates from Carolinas College of Health Sciences take out $25,047 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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. Located in the small city of Lynchburg, Centra College of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
On average, nursing graduates from Centra College of Nursing take out $24,398 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
Herzing University - Birmingham came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the suburb of Birmingham, Herzing University - Birmingham is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
On average, nursing graduates from Herzing University - Birmingham take out $35,162 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $107.
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. BHCLR is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Little Rock.
Nursing majors at BHCLR take out an average of $26,388 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $87.
Galen College of Nursing - Louisville ranked #11 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the large city of Louisville, Galen College of Nursing - Louisville is a private for-profit school with a small student population.
After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Galen College of Nursing - Louisville carry an average student debtload of $35,636. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $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. Located in the medium-sized city of Newport News, Riverside College of Health Careers is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.
Nursing majors at Riverside College of Health Careers take out an average of $29,751 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
Herzing University - Winter Park ranked #13 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Herzing University - Winter Park is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Winter Park.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Herzing University - Winter Park take out while working on their Associate Degree is $35,162. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $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. Located in the small city of Winter Haven, Polk State is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Polk State carry an average student debtload of $19,264.
With a ranking of #15, Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Located in the large suburb of West Palm Beach, ANHO is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Full Nursing at Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations Report
Southside 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 #16 on the list. Southside College of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Colonial Heights.
The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at Southside College of Health Sciences take out while working on their Associate Degree is $22,770.
Southern Regional Technical College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the town of Thomasville, Southwest Georgia Technical College is a public school with a small student population.
Nursing majors at Southwest Georgia Technical College take out an average of $13,212 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
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. West Coast University-Miami is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Doral.
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. Located in the remote town of Hazard, Galen College of Nursing - ARH is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
On average, nursing graduates from Galen College of Nursing - ARH take out $35,636 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $111.
Albany State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the city of Albany, Albany State is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from Albany State carry an average student debtload of $27,530.
Western Kentucky 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 #21 on the list. WKU is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green.
After completing their Associate Degree, nursing graduates from WKU carry an average student debtload of $25,980.
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural 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 #22 on the list. ABAC Tifton is a small public school located in the distant town of Tifton.
Nursing majors at ABAC Tifton take out an average of $22,659 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
Read full report on Nursing at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Athens Technical 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 #23 on the list. Located in the city of Athens, Athens Technical College is a public school with a small student population.
While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Athens Technical College accumulate an average of around $16,282 in student debt.
Louisiana Tech University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the town of Ruston, Louisiana Tech is a public school with a large student population.
While working on their Associate Degree, nursing majors at Louisiana Tech accumulate an average of around $21,122 in student debt.
Middle Georgia 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 #25 on the list. Middle Georgia State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the medium-sized city of Macon.
On average, nursing graduates from Middle Georgia State University take out $24,963 in student loans while working on their Associate Degree.
Rest of the Top Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great schools for Nursing students in the Southeast Region that almost earned our 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 |
|---|---|
| Florida | 21,209 |
| North Carolina | 7,425 |
| Tennessee | 6,004 |
| Georgia | 7,112 |
| Kentucky | 6,395 |
| West Virginia | 1,771 |
| Virginia | 6,775 |
| Alabama | 7,364 |
| Louisiana | 3,502 |
| Mississippi | 2,838 |
| South Carolina | 3,296 |
| Arkansas | 2,882 |
More Nursing Rankings in the Southeast Region
Nursing Related Rankings by Major
Nursing is one of 30 different types of healthcare programs to choose from.
Nursing Focus Areas
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 89,359 |
| Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services | 84,492 |
| Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants | 84,274 |
| Allied Health Professions | 82,308 |
| Public Health | 40,596 |
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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