by our College Data Analytics TeamFor its 2024 ranking, College Factual looked at 142 schools in the Southeast Region to determine which ones were the best for nursing students pursuing a master's degree. Combined, these schools handed out 11,075 master's degrees in nursing to qualified students.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
The nursing master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality nursing program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of master's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their master's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for nursing students working on their master's degree.
The nursing school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best Nursing Master's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region.
The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in nursing. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
It's difficult to beat Vanderbilt University if you want to pursue a master's degree in nursing. Vanderbilt is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Nashville.
Those nursing students who get their master's degree from Vanderbilt University earn $4,453 more than the average nursing graduate.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Vanderbilt University
Emory University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a master's degree in nursing. Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.
Master's recipients from the nursing degree program at Emory University get $2,352 above the average graduate in this field shortly after graduation.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Emory University
It is hard to beat Duke University if you wish to pursue a master's degree in nursing. Located in the city of Durham, Duke is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.
Master's students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn an average of $95,695 for their early career.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Duke University
Every student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in nursing needs to look into University of Virginia - Main Campus. University of Virginia is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of Charlottesville.
Master's students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn around $87,239 in the first couple years of working.
More information about a master’s in nursing from University of Virginia - Main Campus
Located in the rural area of Versailles, Frontier Nursing University is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.
Students who graduate with their master's from the nursing program state that they receive average early career earnings of $94,235.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Frontier Nursing University
Located in the small city of Coral Gables, U Miami is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.
Master's students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn an average of $92,295 in their early career salary.
More information about a master’s in nursing from University of Miami
Located in the medium-sized city of Charleston, MUSC is a public university with a small student population.
Nursing master's degree recipients from Medical University of South Carolina get an earnings boost of around $58,330 above the average earnings of nursing graduates.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Medical University of South Carolina
UofSC is a fairly large public university located in the midsize city of Columbia.
Those nursing students who get their master's degree from University of South Carolina - Columbia earn $6,789 more than the typical nursing grad.
More information about a master’s in nursing from University of South Carolina - Columbia
Located in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford is a private not-for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population.
Master's recipients from the nursing program at Samford University make $2,285 more than the standard graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Samford University
UNC Chapel Hill is a very large public university located in the city of Chapel Hill.
After graduating, nursing master's recipients usually earn an average of $89,271 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a master’s in nursing from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Located in the large suburb of Miami Springs, Miami Regional University is a private for-profit university with a fairly small student population.
Master's graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program earn around $71,988 in their early career salary.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Miami Regional University
Located in the medium-sized city of Birmingham, UAB is a public university with a very large student population.
After graduating, nursing master's recipients usually earn around $91,552 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a master’s in nursing from University of Alabama at Birmingham
Wake Forest University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the medium-sized city of Winston-Salem.
Those nursing students who get their master's degree from Wake Forest University make $73,904 more than the typical nursing grad.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Wake Forest University
Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the midsize city of Fort Lauderdale.
Students who graduate with their master's from the nursing program report average early career earnings of $84,848.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale
FIU is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of Miami.
Nursing master's degree recipients from Florida International University earn a boost of about $5,341 above the typical earnings of nursing graduates.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Florida International University
Located in the medium-sized city of Richmond, VCU is a public university with a very large student population.
Master's students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn about $94,371 for their early career.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University
USA is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized city of Mobile.
Master's students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn around $93,584 in the first couple years of working.
More information about a master’s in nursing from University of South Alabama
NUS Florida is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Fort Lauderdale.
Master's graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program make around $89,562 in their early career salary.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Nova Southeastern University
Ole Miss is a very large public university located in the town of University.
Master's students who receive their degree from the nursing program make around $84,925 in the first couple years of working.
More information about a master’s in nursing from University of Mississippi
USF Tampa is a fairly large public university located in the city of Tampa.
Soon after graduation, nursing master's recipients typically earn an average of $91,251 in their early careers.
More information about a master’s in nursing from University of South Florida - Main Campus
Located in the midsize city of Tallahassee, Florida State is a public university with a very large student population.
Master's recipients from the nursing program at Florida State University make $39,926 more than the average graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.
More information about a master’s in nursing from Florida State UniversityThese are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Nursing Master's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL |
| 27 | Shenandoah University | Winchester, VA |
| 28 | East Carolina University | Greenville, NC |
| 22 | Mercer University | Macon, GA |
| 23 | Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights, KY |
| 24 | Augusta University | Augusta, GA |
| 25 | AdventHealth University | Orlando, FL |
Explore the best nursing schools for a specific state in the Southeast Region .
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 208 | 2,300 |
| Georgia | 190 | 1,353 |
| Virginia | 182 | 728 |
| North Carolina | 178 | 931 |
| Tennessee | 166 | 1,147 |
| Alabama | 151 | 1,997 |
| Kentucky | 147 | 1,361 |
| Louisiana | 147 | 340 |
| South Carolina | 146 | 369 |
| Mississippi | 145 | 175 |
| Arkansas | 121 | 229 |
| West Virginia | 112 | 145 |
Nursing is one of 34 different types of Health Professions programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 5,122 |
| Family Practice Nurse/Nursing | 3,007 |
| Nursing Administration | 665 |
| Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 370 |
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing | 328 |
| Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery | 306 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 214 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing | 206 |
| Nursing Practice | 183 |
| School Nursing | 153 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Health | 3,876 |
| Allied Health Professions | 3,244 |
| Mental & Social Health Services | 3,176 |
| Health & Medical Administrative Services | 2,540 |
| Communication Sciences | 2,085 |
| Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions | 1,779 |
| Health Sciences & Services | 442 |
| Medical Illustration & Informatics | 400 |
| Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences | 304 |
| Dietetics & Clinical Nutrition Services | 303 |
