by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in the Southeast Region, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **199** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 199 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.
Here is the early-career salary range across the top-ranked graduate schools:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Duke University tops our 2027 ranking of the best graduate schools in the Southeast Region. This private not-for-profit school is set in Durham, NC. About 97% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $68,758. Graduates go on to earn a median of $83,388 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #2 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Nashville, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. In-state tuition and fees run about $67,498. Graduates go on to earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $13,975.
The strong outcomes at University Of Virginia Main Campus earned it the #3 place in the Southeast Region. Located in Charlottesville, VA, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $69,126. Typical student debt is $18,627.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in the Southeast Region. Located in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,058, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Early-career graduates earn a median of $83,560. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus students take on a median of $24,323 in debt.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in the Southeast Region. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates report median early-career earnings of $61,361. Graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Based in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $60,004. The median student debt is $23,393.
Emory University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in Atlanta, GA, Emory University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. 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.
University Of Florida landed the #8 spot in the Southeast Region this year. 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,388. The median student debt is $17,669.
College Of William And Mary placed #9 among the best graduate schools in the Southeast Region. Located in Williamsburg, VA, College Of William And Mary is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Students from in state pay about $25,734 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $51,038. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,338. Students borrow a median of $18,935 to complete a degree here.
George Mason University placed #10 among the best graduate schools in the Southeast Region. George Mason University is a public school based in Fairfax, VA. About 68% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $63,131. The median student debt is $23,529.
Wake Forest University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Winston-Salem, NC. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Students from in state pay about $67,642 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $67,369. Typical student debt is $21,577.
University Of Georgia came in at #12 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Athens, GA. University Of Georgia posts a six-year graduation rate of 90%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,546. University Of Georgia students take on a median of $21,792 in debt.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #13 spot in the Southeast Region this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public school based in Raleigh, NC. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,622 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $22,113 in student loans.
James Madison University placed #14 among the best graduate schools in the Southeast Region. This public school is set in Harrisonburg, VA. James Madison University posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,966, while out-of-state students pay about $31,312. James Madison University graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,997. Graduates carry a median of $21,218 in student loans.
The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center placed #15 among the best graduate schools in the Southeast Region. 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. Median early-career earnings reach $86,386. The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center students take on a median of $25,679 in debt.
Clemson University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $15,554 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,834. Graduates carry a median of $23,783 in student loans.
University Of Miami came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Based in Coral Gables, FL, University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Early-career graduates earn a median of $57,234. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete a degree here.
Samford University did well this year, earning the #18 position. Based in Birmingham, AL, Samford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Samford University posts a six-year graduation rate of 77%. In-state tuition and fees average $40,150. Median early-career earnings reach $64,132. Students borrow a median of $21,039 to complete a degree here.
Auburn University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Auburn University is a public school based in Auburn, AL. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $55,422. The median student debt is $22,803.
Southern College Of Optometry landed the #20 spot in the Southeast Region this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Memphis, TN. Median early-career earnings reach $106,728.
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in New Orleans, LA, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,356, while out-of-state students pay about $18,851. Graduates go on to earn a median of $93,560 early in their careers. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans students take on a median of $31,146 in debt.
University Of Richmond landed the #22 spot in the Southeast Region this year. University Of Richmond is a private not-for-profit school based in University of Richmond, VA. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $65,230. Median early-career earnings reach $53,815. Students borrow a median of $21,634 to complete a degree here.
Tulane University Of Louisiana landed the #23 spot in the Southeast Region this year. Set 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,678. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,507 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,077 to complete a degree here.
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #24 in this year's ranking. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $36,298. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,623. The median student debt is $24,537.
Florida State University landed the #25 spot in the Southeast Region this year. This public school is set in Tallahassee, FL. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,884. Students borrow a median of $20,488 to complete a degree here.
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.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
