2027 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in the Southeast Region
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranks #1 of 561 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in the Southeast Region ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 63% six-year graduation rate and $68,466 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in the Southeast Region, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **561** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 561 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Top 25 Colleges in the Southeast Region
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University leads the 561 ranked colleges in the Southeast Region, followed by University Of Florida (#2) and North Carolina State University At Raleigh (#3). Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in the Southeast Region. Based in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,004 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at University Of Florida earned it the #2 place in the Southeast Region. Located in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,388. University Of Florida students take on a median of $17,669 in debt.
You'll be in good company at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #3 this year. This public school is set in Raleigh, NC. North Carolina State University At Raleigh posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Early-career graduates earn a median of $59,622. North Carolina State University At Raleigh students take on a median of $22,113 in debt.
Florida State University came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in the Southeast Region. Set in Tallahassee, FL, Florida State University is a public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Florida State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,884. Graduates carry a median of $20,488 in student loans.
Out of the 561 colleges in the Southeast Region in this year's ranking, University Of Central Florida landed the #5 spot. Set in Orlando, FL, University Of Central Florida is a public institution. University Of Central Florida posts a six-year graduation rate of 78%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,790 early in their careers. University Of Central Florida students take on a median of $21,620 in debt.
Emory University Oxford College placed #6 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. Set in Oxford, GA, Emory University Oxford College is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,280. Graduates go on to earn a median of $7,808 early in their careers. The median student debt is $11,260.
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in Tampa, FL, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a public institution. About 77% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,885. Graduates carry a median of $21,829 in student loans.
University Of North Florida placed #8 among the best colleges in the Southeast Region. Set in Jacksonville, FL, University Of North Florida is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,964, compared with $19,407 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,208 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,523 to complete a degree here.
Florida Gulf Coast University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Based in Fort Myers, FL, Florida Gulf Coast University is a public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,118, compared with $25,162 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,726. Graduates carry a median of $20,015 in student loans.
Florida Atlantic University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Boca Raton, FL, Florida Atlantic University is a public institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,340. Students borrow a median of $20,212 to complete a degree here.
The University Of West Florida came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Pensacola, FL. About 59% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $5,776, compared with $18,658 for out-of-state students. The University Of West Florida graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,141. The median student debt is $19,677.
Galen College Of Nursing Louisville ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Galen College Of Nursing Louisville is a private for-profit school based in Louisville, KY. Galen College Of Nursing Louisville graduates 23% of students within six years. Galen College Of Nursing Louisville graduates report median early-career earnings of $63,726. Students borrow a median of $32,425 to complete a degree here.
University Of Florida Online ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. University Of Florida Online is a public school based in Gainesville, FL. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. In-state tuition and fees average $3,876, with out-of-state students paying around $16,579. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,438. Typical student debt is $17,784.
Carolinas College Of Health Sciences landed the #14 spot in the Southeast Region this year. Set in Charlotte, NC, Carolinas College Of Health Sciences is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,882. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,608 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $24,874 in student loans.
Cumberland University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Cumberland University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lebanon, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,840. Cumberland University graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,696. Typical student debt is $21,902.
Florida Polytechnic University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Lakeland, FL. About 55% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $4,940 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,004 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,823 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans.
Columbia Southern University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This private for-profit school is set in Orange Beach, AL. Columbia Southern University posts a six-year graduation rate of 26%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,224. Early-career graduates earn a median of $63,650. Students borrow a median of $25,447 to complete a degree here.
Florida International University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Set in Miami, FL, Florida International University is a public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $52,517. Students borrow a median of $19,349 to complete a degree here.
Northern Virginia Community College landed the #19 spot in the Southeast Region this year. Set in Annandale, VA, Northern Virginia Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,891, compared with $12,410 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $40,126. Students borrow a median of $14,413 to complete a degree here.
Edison State College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Set in Fort Myers, FL, Edison State College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,401, compared with $12,979 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $52,597. Edison State College students take on a median of $13,356 in debt.
Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences landed the #21 spot in the Southeast Region this year. Located in Concord, NC, Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,550. Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences graduates report median early-career earnings of $60,869. Typical student debt is $24,414.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach did well this year, earning the #22 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Daytona Beach, FL. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach graduates 66% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $44,074. Graduates go on to earn a median of $70,246 early in their careers. The median student debt is $22,845.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide came in at #23 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Daytona Beach, FL. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide posts a six-year graduation rate of 23%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,097. Median early-career earnings reach $76,517. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide students take on a median of $20,787 in debt.
Palm Beach State College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Set in Lake Worth, FL, Palm Beach State College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,050, while out-of-state students pay about $10,910. Median early-career earnings reach $42,501. Graduates carry a median of $12,518 in student loans.
Broward College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Broward College is a public school based in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,830, while out-of-state students pay about $8,952. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,328. The median student debt is $13,110.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Colleges in the Southeast Region
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 561 in the Southeast Region. These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
With all of the college options in the Southeast Region, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **561** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
