by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in the Southeast Region, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **130** programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed 130 graduate schools 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.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
No school ranked higher than Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus this year in the Southeast Region. Set in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Graduates go on to earn a median of $83,560 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,323.
Vanderbilt University came in at #2 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in the Southeast Region. Set in Nashville, TN, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $77,997. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete a degree here.
Duke University came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in the Southeast Region. Located in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $68,758. Duke University graduates report median early-career earnings of $83,388. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #4 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the top graduate schools in the Southeast Region. This public school is set in Chapel Hill, NC. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill posts a six-year graduation rate of 91%. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates report median early-career earnings of $61,361. Typical student debt is $15,117.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Virginia Main Campus one of the top graduate schools in the Southeast Region. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public school based in Charlottesville, VA. University Of Virginia Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $69,126. Graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Set in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Median early-career earnings reach $60,004. Typical student debt is $23,393.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #7 among the best graduate schools in the Southeast Region. Set in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $59,622. The median student debt is $22,113.
University Of Florida ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Gainesville, FL. About 91% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,388 early in their careers. University Of Florida students take on a median of $17,669 in debt.
Emory University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Based in Atlanta, GA, Emory University is a private not-for-profit institution. Emory University graduates 91% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $64,280. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $67,840. The median student debt is $19,431.
Wake Forest University landed the #10 spot in the Southeast Region this year. Set in Winston-Salem, NC, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. Wake Forest University graduates 89% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $67,642. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $67,369. Typical student debt is $21,577.
University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences did well this year, earning the #11 position. This public school is set in Little Rock, AR. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,086, compared with $14,714 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $72,098. University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences students take on a median of $23,106 in debt.
The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Memphis, TN, The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,911, with out-of-state students paying around $25,644. Early-career graduates earn a median of $86,386. Students borrow a median of $25,679 to complete a degree here.
University Of Georgia came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in Athens, GA, University Of Georgia is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,546. The median student debt is $21,792.
Clemson University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Clemson University is a public school based in Clemson, SC. Clemson University graduates 87% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Median early-career earnings reach $53,834. Students borrow a median of $23,783 to complete a degree here.
College Of William And Mary landed the #15 spot in the Southeast Region this year. Located in Williamsburg, VA, College Of William And Mary is a public institution. College Of William And Mary graduates 89% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $25,734, while out-of-state students pay about $51,038. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,338. The median student debt is $18,935.
George Mason University did well this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Fairfax, VA, George Mason University is a public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $63,131. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete a degree here.
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans did well this year, earning the #17 position. This public school is set in New Orleans, LA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,356, compared with $18,851 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $93,560. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans students take on a median of $31,146 in debt.
Auburn University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Auburn, AL, Auburn University is a public institution. Auburn University posts a six-year graduation rate of 82%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,422 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $22,803 in student loans.
James Madison University placed #19 among the best graduate schools in the Southeast Region. James Madison University is a public school based in Harrisonburg, VA. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. In-state tuition and fees average $13,966, while out-of-state students pay about $31,312. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,997. James Madison University students take on a median of $21,218 in debt.
University Of Miami did well this year, earning the #20 position. Based in Coral Gables, FL, University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Miami posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Median early-career earnings reach $57,234. Graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans.
Tulane University Of Louisiana landed the #21 spot in the Southeast Region this year. Located in New Orleans, LA, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates 86% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $68,678. Median early-career earnings reach $54,082. Typical student debt is $22,077.
Florida State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Tallahassee, FL, Florida State University is a public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,884. Florida State University students take on a median of $20,488 in debt.
University Of South Carolina Columbia ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Columbia, SC, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public institution. University Of South Carolina Columbia posts a six-year graduation rate of 79%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,688, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,087. Students borrow a median of $24,472 to complete a degree here.
Medical University Of South Carolina came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Based in Charleston, SC, Medical University Of South Carolina is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,972, compared with $30,380 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $89,719. Medical University Of South Carolina students take on a median of $29,043 in debt.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Set in Baton Rouge, LA, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,954, while out-of-state students pay about $28,631. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,718. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College students take on a median of $21,348 in debt.
Not far behind, these graduate schools also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Graduate schools are scored on 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).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
