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Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region

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2023 Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region

124 Colleges
$67,632 Avg Salary
$24,151 Avg Student Debt

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.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Healthcare Degree Search has created the Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 124 schools in the Southeast Region to see which ones were the most popular online programs for healthcare students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for nursing majors pursuing an online .

Our 2023 rankings named University of South Florida - Main Campus the most popular online school in the Southeast Region for nursing students. Located in the city of Tampa, USF Tampa is a public school with a very large student population.

On average, nursing graduates from USF Tampa take out $24,636 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $181.

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#2

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA

Out of the 124 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Liberty University landed the # 2 spot on the list. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at Liberty University accumulate an average of around $28,000 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $554, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at Liberty University Report

#3

Nova Southeastern University

Fort Lauderdale, FL

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Nova Southeastern University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region list. NUS Florida is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Fort Lauderdale.

Nursing majors at NUS Florida take out an average of $31,538 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $334.

Read full report on Nursing at Nova Southeastern University

#4

East Carolina University

Greenville, NC

The excellent online programs at East Carolina University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in the Southeast Region . ECU is a fairly large public school located in the city of Greenville.

Nursing majors at ECU take out an average of $26,000 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $261.

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#5

Georgia Southern University

Statesboro, GA

Out of the 124 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Georgia Southern University landed the # 5 spot on the list. GaSou is a very large public school located in the town of Statesboro.

On average, nursing graduates from GaSou take out $28,000 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $121.

Read full report on Nursing at Georgia Southern University

#6

University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR

University of Arkansas did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #6 on the list. UARK is a very large public school located in the city of Fayetteville.

Nursing majors at UARK take out an average of $26,625 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $410.

Full Nursing at University of Arkansas Report

#7

University of Memphis

Memphis, TN

University of Memphis landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. UofM is a very large public school located in the large city of Memphis.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from UofM carry an average student debtload of $26,625. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $115, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at University of Memphis Report

Frontier Nursing University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. Located in the rural area of Hyden, Frontier Nursing University is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Nursing at Frontier Nursing University Report

University of North Carolina at Greensboro ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the large city of Greensboro, UNC Greensboro is a public school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from UNC Greensboro carry an average student debtload of $22,250. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $151.

Full Nursing at University of North Carolina at Greensboro Report

#10

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, FL

University of North Florida did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the large city of Jacksonville, UNF is a public school with a large student population.

On average, nursing graduates from UNF take out $18,750 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Nursing at University of North Florida

With a ranking of #11, Northwestern State University of Louisiana did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students. NSU is a large public school located in the remote town of Natchitoches.

Nursing majors at NSU take out an average of $28,250 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Nursing at Northwestern State University of Louisiana

#12

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL

University of Florida ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the city of Gainesville, UF is a public college with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at UF accumulate an average of around $19,458 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $146, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at University of Florida Report

#13

Old Dominion University

Norfolk, VA

Old Dominion University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Old Dominion is a very large public school located in the medium-sized city of Norfolk.

On average, nursing graduates from Old Dominion take out $25,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Nursing at Old Dominion University

Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best nursing programs. VCU is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of Richmond.

The average amount in student loans that nursing majors at VCU take out is $26,687. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $238, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at Virginia Commonwealth University

South University’s online programs did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for nursing students. It came in at #15 on the list. South University's online programs is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Savannah.

While working on their degree, nursing majors at South University's online programs accumulate an average of around $40,204 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $250, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Nursing at South University’s online programs Report

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the city of Knoxville, UT Knoxville is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Nursing majors at UT Knoxville take out an average of $19,518 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Nursing at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Report

#17

Winston - Salem State University

Winston-Salem, NC

Winston - Salem State University ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region list. WSSU is a medium-sized public school located in the midsize city of Winston-Salem.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from WSSU carry an average student debtload of $24,946. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $135, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Nursing at Winston - Salem State University

University of South Alabama came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. USA is a large public school located in the midsize city of Mobile.

After completing their degree, nursing graduates from USA carry an average student debtload of $26,429. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $230.

Read full report on Nursing at University of South Alabama

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great schools for online Nursing students in the Southeast Region that almost earned our Most Popular Online Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region award.

Rank College Location
19 Polk State College Winter Haven, FL
20 Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, NC
21 University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC
22 Auburn University Auburn, AL
23 University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, AR
24 Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC

Explore the most popular online nursing colleges 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 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

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.

  • 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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