2026 Best Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 47 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing in the Southeast Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing
No school ranked higher than Vanderbilt University this year for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 60 psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $125,565. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975.
Read more about the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program at Vanderbilt University
Duke University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. Duke University awarded about 43 psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program make about $116,855 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,000.
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University Of Miami is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 29 psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Miami in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from University Of Miami generally make around $116,541. University Of Miami graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes George Mason University one of the top schools for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. George Mason University awarded about 12 psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse/nursing graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $99,718 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,750.
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University Of South Carolina Columbia is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. About 79% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Carolina Columbia in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree from University Of South Carolina Columbia earn around $103,138 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing from University Of South Carolina Columbia
Florida International University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. Florida International University awarded about 28 psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree from Florida International University earn around $96,525 in the first couple years of their career. Florida International University graduates carry a median of $18,895 in student loans.
See the full psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program report for Florida International University
Florida Atlantic University landed the #7 spot for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing this year. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degrees were awarded at Florida Atlantic University in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree from Florida Atlantic University earn around $96,397 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,070 to complete this degree.
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Samford University placed #8 among the best psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 15 psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degrees were awarded at Samford University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Samford University generally make around $109,608. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete this degree.
See the full psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program report for Samford University
University Of Southern Mississippi came in at #9 for psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing this year. Located in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public university. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degrees were awarded at University Of Southern Mississippi in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree from University Of Southern Mississippi earn around $119,800 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,125.
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Nova Southeastern University placed #10 among the best psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. Nova Southeastern University graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing students who graduated with this degree at Nova Southeastern University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program make about $101,203 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
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East Tennessee State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public institution. East Tennessee State University graduates 53% of students within six years. About 19 psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degrees were awarded at East Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree from East Tennessee State University earn around $89,640 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,091 to complete this degree.
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Jacksonville University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Jacksonville. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing students who graduated with this degree at Jacksonville University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program make about $97,066 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete this degree.
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Western Kentucky University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public institution. Western Kentucky University graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing students who graduated with this degree at Western Kentucky University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree from Western Kentucky University earn around $84,066 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,665.
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Liberty University placed #14 among the best psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Liberty University graduates 67% of students within six years. Liberty University awarded about 128 psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $83,872. Students borrow a median of $27,457 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing from Liberty University
Mcneese State University placed #15 among the best psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. Located in the city of Lake Charles, Mcneese State University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing students who graduated with this degree at Mcneese State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Mcneese State University generally make around $94,976. Mcneese State University graduates carry a median of $26,100 in student loans.
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King College placed #16 among the best psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. King College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bristol. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. About 18 psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degrees were awarded at King College in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree from King College earn around $77,837 in the first couple years of their career. King College graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Frontier Nursing University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. Frontier Nursing University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Versailles. Frontier Nursing University awarded about 280 psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Frontier Nursing University generally make around $114,085.
See the full psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program report for Frontier Nursing University
Lincoln Memorial University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. Located in the town of Harrogate, Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lincoln Memorial University awarded about 16 psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program make about $70,403 in their early career. Lincoln Memorial University graduates carry a median of $24,375 in student loans.
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Southern Adventist University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing schools. Set in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degrees were awarded at Southern Adventist University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing degree recipients from Southern Adventist University generally make around $77,467. Typical student debt for the program is $26,596.
Read more about the psychiatric/mental health nurse/nursing program at Southern Adventist University
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 47 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
