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2024 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region

302 Colleges in the Southeast Region
26,382 Associate Degrees
$54,735 Avg Early-Career Salary
Ranked #2 in popularity, nursing is one of the most sought-after associate degree programs in the nation. This makes choosing the right school a hard decision.

College Factual looked at 302 colleges and universities when compiling its 2024 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 26,382 associate degrees in nursing during the 2020-2021 academic year.

What's on this page: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Nursing School for Your Associate Degree

Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region Your choice of nursing for getting your associate degree school matters. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. When choosing a school we recommend considering some of the following factors:

Quality Overall Is Important

A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To take this into account we include a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.

Average Earnings

One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of associate graduates during the early years of their career. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue their associate degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.

Other Factors We Consider

The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.

Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for nursing students working on their associate degree.

More Ways to Rank Nursing Schools

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Nursing Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.


 

Best Schools for Associate Students to Study Nursing in the Southeast Region

The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing an associate 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.

25 Top Southeast Region Schools for an Associate in Nursing

1
601 Annual Graduates
$56,116 Median Starting Salary
$31,499 Median Student Debt

It's difficult to beat Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale if you wish to pursue an associate degree in nursing. Located in the midsize city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.

Students who graduate with their associate from the nursing program state that they receive average early career earnings of $56,116.

More information about a associate in nursing from Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale

2
86 Annual Graduates
$51,554 Median Starting Salary
$25,000 Median Student Debt

Southern Adventist University is a great choice for individuals interested in an associate degree in nursing. Located in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.

Associate students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn an average of $51,554 in the first couple years of working.

More information about a associate in nursing from Southern Adventist University

3
1,084 Annual Graduates
$58,266 Median Starting Salary
$30,500 Median Student Debt

Rasmussen University - Florida is a great option for students interested in an associate degree in nursing. Located in the city of Ocala, Rasmussen University - Florida is a private for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population.

Associate recipients from the nursing degree program at Rasmussen University - Florida make $3,531 above the typical college grad in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a associate in nursing from Rasmussen University - Florida

4
ECPI University crest
ECPI University
Virginia Beach, VA
574 Annual Graduates
$59,510 Median Starting Salary
$35,425 Median Student Debt

It is hard to beat ECPI University if you wish to pursue an associate degree in nursing. Located in the large city of Virginia Beach, ECPI University is a private for-profit university with a large student population.

Those nursing students who get their associate degree from ECPI University receive $4,775 more than the typical nursing grad.

More information about a associate in nursing from ECPI University

5
BC crest
Broward College
Fort Lauderdale, FL
303 Annual Graduates
$58,278 Median Starting Salary
$13,886 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, BC is a public college with a very large student population.

Associate recipients from the nursing program at Broward College make $3,543 more than the average college grad with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a associate in nursing from Broward College

6
Miami Regional University crest
Miami Regional University
Miami Springs, FL
154 Annual Graduates
$51,390 Median Starting Salary
$26,750 Median Student Debt

Miami Regional University is a fairly small private for-profit university located in the suburb of Miami Springs.

Associate graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program earn an average of $51,390 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a associate in nursing from Miami Regional University

7
264 Annual Graduates
$58,115 Median Starting Salary
$34,859 Median Student Debt

Galen College of Nursing - Louisville is a small private for-profit college located in the large city of Louisville.

Associate recipients from the nursing program at Galen College of Nursing - Louisville get $3,380 above the average graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a associate in nursing from Galen College of Nursing - Louisville

8
Valencia College crest
Valencia College
Orlando, FL
278 Annual Graduates
$58,090 Median Starting Salary
$17,750 Median Student Debt

Valencia College is a fairly large public college located in the city of Orlando.

Those nursing students who get their associate degree from Valencia College make $3,355 more than the standard nursing student.

More information about a associate in nursing from Valencia College

9
614 Annual Graduates
$55,472 Median Starting Salary
$13,940 Median Student Debt

MDC is a fairly large public college located in the city of Miami.

Students who graduate with their associate from the nursing program report average early career earnings of $55,472.

More information about a associate in nursing from Miami Dade College

10
Marshall University crest
Marshall University
Huntington, WV
108 Annual Graduates
$54,506 Median Starting Salary
$25,375 Median Student Debt

Marshall University is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Huntington.

Associate graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program earn about $54,506 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a associate in nursing from Marshall University

11
74 Annual Graduates
$58,677 Median Starting Salary
$23,749 Median Student Debt

Located in the midsize city of Concord, Cabarrus College of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Those nursing students who get their associate degree from Cabarrus College of Health Sciences receive $3,942 more than the standard nursing student.

More information about a associate in nursing from Cabarrus College of Health Sciences

12
95 Annual Graduates
$58,074 Median Starting Salary
$25,750 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of Jonesboro, A-State is a public university with a large student population.

Associate recipients from the nursing program at Arkansas State University - Main Campus make $3,339 more than the standard college grad in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a associate in nursing from Arkansas State University - Main Campus

13
445 Annual Graduates
$53,442 Median Starting Salary
$17,701 Median Student Debt

FSCJ is a fairly large public college located in the city of Jacksonville.

Students who graduate with their associate from the nursing program state that they receive average early career wages of $53,442.

More information about a associate in nursing from Florida State College at Jacksonville

14
237 Annual Graduates
$57,782 Median Starting Salary
$14,837 Median Student Debt

Palm Beach State College is a fairly large public college located in the suburb of Lake Worth.

Associate recipients from the nursing major at Palm Beach State College get $3,047 above the average college graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a associate in nursing from Palm Beach State College

15
171 Annual Graduates
$49,221 Median Starting Salary
$21,000 Median Student Debt

Located in the town of Harrogate, LMU is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.

Associate students who receive their degree from the nursing program earn around $49,221 for their early career.

More information about a associate in nursing from Lincoln Memorial University

16
83 Annual Graduates
$58,918 Median Starting Salary
$31,509 Median Student Debt

Located in the large suburb of Winter Park, Herzing University - Winter Park is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.

Associate recipients from the nursing program at Herzing University - Winter Park earn $4,183 more than the average graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a associate in nursing from Herzing University - Winter Park

17
WKU crest
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY
101 Annual Graduates
$53,729 Median Starting Salary
$21,000 Median Student Debt

WKU is a large public university located in the city of Bowling Green.

Students who graduate with their associate from the nursing program report average early career income of $53,729.

More information about a associate in nursing from Western Kentucky University

18
153 Annual Graduates
$60,649 Median Starting Salary
$27,482 Median Student Debt

Albany State is a medium-sized public university located in the city of Albany.

Associate recipients from the nursing program at Albany State University earn $5,914 more than the standard graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a associate in nursing from Albany State University

19
269 Annual Graduates
$54,304 Median Starting Salary
$15,917 Median Student Debt

Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, FSW is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Soon after graduation, nursing associate recipients generally earn around $54,304 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a associate in nursing from Florida SouthWestern State College

20
95 Annual Graduates
$60,164 Median Starting Salary
$24,499 Median Student Debt

Carolinas College of Health Sciences is a small public college located in the large city of Charlotte.

Nursing associate degree recipients from Carolinas College of Health Sciences receive an earnings boost of approximately $5,429 over the typical earnings of nursing graduates.

More information about a associate in nursing from Carolinas College of Health Sciences

21
SPC crest
St Petersburg College
St. Petersburg, FL
446 Annual Graduates
$55,638 Median Starting Salary
$22,100 Median Student Debt

SPC is a very large public college located in the city of St. Petersburg.

Associate graduates who receive their degree from the nursing program earn around $55,638 for their early career.

More information about a associate in nursing from St Petersburg College

22
275 Annual Graduates
$58,409 Median Starting Salary
$35,330 Median Student Debt

Located in the city of New Orleans, Delgado Community College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Those nursing students who get their associate degree from Delgado Community College earn $3,674 more than the average nursing graduate.

More information about a associate in nursing from Delgado Community College

23
229 Annual Graduates
$52,065 Median Starting Salary
$12,075 Median Student Debt

Located in the small city of Pensacola, Pensacola State is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

After graduating, nursing associate recipients usually make around $52,065 in their early careers.

More information about a associate in nursing from Pensacola State College

24
82 Annual Graduates
$58,918 Median Starting Salary
$31,509 Median Student Debt

Herzing University - Birmingham is a fairly small private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Birmingham.

Nursing associate degree recipients from Herzing University - Birmingham receive an earnings boost of approximately $4,183 over the average income of nursing graduates.

More information about a associate in nursing from Herzing University - Birmingham

25
Santa Fe College crest
Santa Fe College
Gainesville, FL
204 Annual Graduates
$60,084 Median Starting Salary
$17,025 Median Student Debt

Located in the suburb of Gainesville, Santa Fe College is a public college with a large student population.

Those nursing students who get their associate degree from Santa Fe College receive $5,349 more than the standard nursing graduate.

More information about a associate in nursing from Santa Fe College

Rest of the Top Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region

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27
28
29
30
31
Gardner - Webb crest
Gardner - Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC
32
Daytona State College crest
Daytona State College
Daytona Beach, FL

33

34
35
GCSC crest
Gulf Coast State College
Panama City, FL
36
37
38
39
40
41

42

43
44
Sullivan University crest
Sullivan University
Louisville, KY
45

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region award.

Rank College Location
46 Germanna Community College Locust Grove, VA
47 Wallace Community College, Dothan Dothan, AL
48 Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA
49 Pasco-Hernando State College New Port Richey, FL
50 Greenville Technical College Greenville, SC
51 College of Central Florida Ocala, FL
52 Thomas Nelson Community College Hampton, VA
53 Fairmont State University Fairmont, WV
54 Midway University Midway, KY
55 Troy University Troy, AL
56 Middle Georgia State University Macon, GA
57 Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NC
58 Florida Gateway College Lake City, FL
59 South Louisiana Community College Lafayette, LA
60 Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY

Best Nursing Colleges by State

Explore the best nursing schools for a specific state in the Southeast Region .

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Mississippi 143 1,269
Georgia 121 1,473
Florida 121 9,083
North Carolina 120 2,538
Arkansas 105 1,212
Tennessee 102 1,235
Virginia 97 2,569
West Virginia 92 813
Kentucky 90 1,848
Louisiana 80 966
South Carolina 77 1,223
Alabama 69 2,116

View All Rankings >

Nursing is one of 34 different types of Health Professions programs to choose from.

Nursing Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Registered Nursing 26,310
Other Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing 68
Nursing Practice 4

Related Major Annual Graduates
Health & Medical Administrative Services 8,940
Allied Health Professions 8,188
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 6,189
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science 1,593
Dental Support Services 1,480
Health/Medical Prep Programs 938
Health Sciences & Services 924
Mental & Social Health Services 859
Other Health Professions 681
Public Health 260

Notes and References

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