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2026 Best Registered Nursing Schools in Georgia

51 Colleges in the United States
5,992 Registered Nursing Degrees Awarded
$77,235 Avg Early-Career Salary

Registered Nursing programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 58 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for registered nursing students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Registered Nursing in Georgia

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 registered nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Registered Nursing

1
Emory University crest
Emory University
Atlanta, GA

Leading the list is Emory University, our #1 school for registered nursing. Set in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 537 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Emory University in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $98,673 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the registered nursing program at Emory University

2

Kennesaw State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in registered nursing, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kennesaw. About 52% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 311 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Kennesaw State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Kennesaw State University generally make around $91,470. Typical student debt for the program is $25,093. Get the full registered nursing details for Kennesaw State University

3

Southern Crescent Technical College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in registered nursing, landing the #3 spot this year. Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Griffin. Southern Crescent Technical College awarded about 38 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Southern Crescent Technical College generally make around $77,547. Southern Crescent Technical College graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Get the full registered nursing details for Southern Crescent Technical College

4

Southern Regional Technical College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in registered nursing, landing the #4 spot this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Thomasville. There were roughly 97 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Southern Regional Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $69,971 in their early career. Southern Regional Technical College graduates carry a median of $10,531 in student loans. Get the full registered nursing details for Southern Regional Technical College

5

Students looking for a strong registered nursing program will find one at Georgia College And State University, which ranked #5. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Milledgeville. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Georgia College And State University awarded about 190 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $83,590 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the registered nursing program at Georgia College And State University

6

Georgia State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Atlanta. Georgia State University graduates 53% of students within six years. Georgia State University awarded about 207 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Georgia State University earn a median of $94,620 early in their careers. Georgia State University graduates carry a median of $28,215 in student loans. See the full registered nursing program report for Georgia State University

7

University Of West Georgia landed the #7 spot for registered nursing this year. Set in the town of Carrollton, University Of West Georgia is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. About 174 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of West Georgia in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of University Of West Georgia earn a median of $85,460 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. More information about a degree in registered nursing from University Of West Georgia

8

Mercer University earned the #8 position for registered nursing this year. Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Macon. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 164 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Mercer University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Mercer University generally make around $98,345. Typical student debt for the program is $29,161. See the full registered nursing program report for Mercer University

9

North Georgia Technical College placed #9 among the best registered nursing schools. North Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Clarkesville. There were roughly 36 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at North Georgia Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from North Georgia Technical College earn around $66,960 in the first couple years of their career. North Georgia Technical College graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Read more about the registered nursing program at North Georgia Technical College

10
Gwinnett Technical College crest
Gwinnett Technical College
Lawrenceville, GA

Gwinnett Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Located in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Gwinnett Technical College is a large public university. About 69 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Gwinnett Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Gwinnett Technical College generally make around $71,917. Gwinnett Technical College graduates carry a median of $27,050 in student loans. Read more about the registered nursing program at Gwinnett Technical College

11
Augusta University crest
Augusta University
Augusta, GA

Augusta University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Augusta University is a large public school located in the city of Augusta. Augusta University graduates 49% of students within six years. About 314 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Augusta University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Augusta University generally make around $84,840. Typical student debt for the program is $22,956. Read more about the registered nursing program at Augusta University

12

Chattahoochee Technical College came in at #12 for registered nursing this year. Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Marietta. There were roughly 17 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Chattahoochee Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Chattahoochee Technical College earn around $86,454 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,616 to complete this degree. See the full registered nursing program report for Chattahoochee Technical College

13

Georgia Highlands College earned the #13 position for registered nursing this year. Georgia Highlands College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Rome. The six-year graduation rate is 20%. There were roughly 141 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Highlands College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $79,231 in their early career. Georgia Highlands College graduates carry a median of $17,119 in student loans. See the full registered nursing program report for Georgia Highlands College

14

University Of North Georgia landed the #14 spot for registered nursing this year. Located in the town of Dahlonega, University Of North Georgia is a very large public university. University Of North Georgia graduates 50% of students within six years. About 208 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of North Georgia in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from University Of North Georgia generally make around $87,563. Typical student debt for the program is $19,743. Get the full registered nursing details for University Of North Georgia

15

Chamberlain College Of Nursing Georgia ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This mid-sized private for-profit university is located in the city of Sandy Springs. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Georgia awarded about 436 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $83,188 in their early career. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Georgia graduates carry a median of $39,146 in student loans. More information about a degree in registered nursing from Chamberlain College Of Nursing Georgia

16

Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins placed #16 among the best registered nursing schools. This large public university is located in the city of Warner Robins. About 349 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins earn a median of $66,030 early in their careers. Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins graduates carry a median of $16,120 in student loans. More information about a degree in registered nursing from Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins

17

Augusta Technical College landed the #17 spot for registered nursing this year. Set in the city of Augusta, Augusta Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 26 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Augusta Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Augusta Technical College earn around $68,041 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,400 to complete this degree. Read more about the registered nursing program at Augusta Technical College

18

Athens Technical College came in at #18 for registered nursing this year. Athens Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Athens. About 52 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Athens Technical College in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Athens Technical College earn a median of $72,823 early in their careers. Athens Technical College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. See the full registered nursing program report for Athens Technical College

19

West Georgia Technical College earned the #19 position for registered nursing this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Waco. West Georgia Technical College awarded about 38 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from West Georgia Technical College generally make around $83,943. Students borrow a median of $19,833 to complete this degree. Get the full registered nursing details for West Georgia Technical College

20
Georgia Gwinnett College crest
Georgia Gwinnett College
Lawrenceville, GA

Georgia Gwinnett College earned the #20 position for registered nursing this year. Set in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Georgia Gwinnett College is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 22%. Georgia Gwinnett College awarded about 63 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Georgia Gwinnett College earn around $80,074 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,280 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in registered nursing from Georgia Gwinnett College

21

Georgia Southern University placed #21 among the best registered nursing schools. Georgia Southern University is a very large public school located in the town of Statesboro. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 393 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Southern University in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Georgia Southern University earn a median of $85,507 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,277 to complete this degree. Read more about the registered nursing program at Georgia Southern University

22

Reinhardt University came in at #22 for registered nursing this year. Reinhardt University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Waleska. Reinhardt University graduates 44% of students within six years. Reinhardt University awarded about 24 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $81,266 in their early career. Reinhardt University graduates carry a median of $30,275 in student loans. Read more about the registered nursing program at Reinhardt University

23

Middle Georgia State University placed #23 among the best registered nursing schools. This large public university is located in the city of Macon. About 24% of students finish within six years. About 179 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Middle Georgia State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from Middle Georgia State University earn around $86,547 in the first couple years of their career. Middle Georgia State University graduates carry a median of $23,825 in student loans. More information about a degree in registered nursing from Middle Georgia State University

24

Albany State University landed the #24 spot for registered nursing this year. Albany State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Albany. About 33% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 225 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Albany State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Albany State University generally make around $92,872. Albany State University graduates carry a median of $29,903 in student loans. More information about a degree in registered nursing from Albany State University

25

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College landed the #25 spot for registered nursing this year. Located in the rural area of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 38 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Wiregrass Georgia Technical College generally make around $69,235. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree. See the full registered nursing program report for Wiregrass Georgia Technical College

Rest of the Top 50 Registered Nursing Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s registered nursing ranking:

26
27
Lanier Technical College crest
Lanier Technical College
Gainesville, GA
28
29
30
31
32
Berry College crest
Berry College
Mount Berry, GA
33
34
35
36
Gordon State College crest
Gordon State College
Barnesville, GA
37
38
39
40
Thomas University crest
Thomas University
Thomasville, GA
41
42
43
44
Lagrange College crest
Lagrange College
Lagrange, GA
45
46
47
48
Piedmont College crest
Piedmont College
Demorest, GA
49
50

View All Registered Nursing Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 58 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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