by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in the Southeast Region, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights 1298 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual evaluated graduate schools across over 20 objective factors 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 best graduate school for you depends on what you want to study. Narrow your list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Or choose a degree level:
Looking to pit your favorite graduate schools against each other? Try our tool College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter most to you.
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Duke University tops our 2026 ranking of the best graduate schools in the Southeast Region. Based in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 97% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,758. Median early-career earnings reach $83,388. Duke University students take on a median of $13,296 in debt.
You'll be in good company at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus, which ranked #2 this year. Located 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%. Students from in state pay about $12,058 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. 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 Virginia Main Campus came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in the Southeast Region. Based in Charlottesville, VA, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $61,591. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $69,126. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Vanderbilt University earned it the #4 place in the Southeast Region. Based 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. The median student debt is $13,975.
You'll be in good company at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, which ranked #5 this year. Set in Chapel Hill, NC, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $61,361. The median student debt is $15,117.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #6 spot in the Southeast Region this year. Set in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, 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.
James Madison University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in Harrisonburg, VA, James Madison University is a public institution. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $13,966 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,312 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,997. James Madison University students take on a median of $21,218 in debt.
Emory University landed the #8 spot in the Southeast Region this year. Set in Atlanta, GA, Emory University is a private not-for-profit institution. Emory University posts a six-year graduation rate of 91%. In-state tuition and fees run about $64,280. Graduates go on to earn a median of $67,840 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $19,431 in student loans.
Wake Forest University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Set in Winston-Salem, NC, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. Wake Forest University posts a six-year graduation rate of 89%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,642. Median early-career earnings reach $67,369. Wake Forest University students take on a median of $21,577 in debt.
College Of William And Mary placed #10 among the best graduate schools in the Southeast Region. College Of William And Mary is a public school based in Williamsburg, VA. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $25,734 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $51,038. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,338 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,935 to complete a degree here.
University Of Florida landed the #11 spot in the Southeast Region this year. This public school is set in Gainesville, FL. University Of Florida posts a six-year graduation rate of 91%. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $58,388. Graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public school based in Raleigh, NC. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates report median early-career earnings of $59,622. The median student debt is $22,113.
University Of Richmond did well this year, earning the #13 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in University of Richmond, VA. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,230. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,815. University Of Richmond students take on a median of $21,634 in debt.
George Mason University placed #14 among the best graduate schools in the Southeast Region. This public school is set in Fairfax, VA. George Mason University posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. Students from in state pay about $14,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Median early-career earnings reach $63,131. Typical student debt is $23,529.
Davidson College placed #15 among the best graduate schools in the Southeast Region. Davidson College is a private not-for-profit school based in Davidson, NC. About 91% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $64,430. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,505 early in their careers. The median student debt is $19,906.
University Of Georgia did well this year, earning the #16 position. University Of Georgia is a public school based in Athens, GA. About 90% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,546 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete a degree here.
Washington And Lee University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Based in Lexington, VA, Washington And Lee University is a private not-for-profit institution. Washington And Lee University graduates 94% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,045. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $76,810. Graduates carry a median of $20,074 in student loans.
Clemson University placed #18 among the best graduate schools in the Southeast Region. Set in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,834. The median student debt is $23,783.
Auburn University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Auburn, AL. About 82% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $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.
Elon University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Elon, NC. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $46,958. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,463. The median student debt is $21,619.
Florida State University placed #21 among the best graduate schools in the Southeast Region. Set in Tallahassee, FL, Florida State University is a public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Median early-career earnings reach $51,884. The median student debt is $20,488.
University Of Miami landed the #22 spot in the Southeast Region this year. Set in Coral Gables, FL, University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $62,616. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,234 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $17,750.
The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center landed the #23 spot in the Southeast Region this year. This public school is set in Memphis, TN. In-state tuition and fees average $12,911, with out-of-state students paying around $25,644. Early-career graduates earn a median of $86,386. The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center students take on a median of $25,679 in debt.
Tulane University Of Louisiana placed #24 among the best graduate schools in the Southeast Region. Located in New Orleans, LA, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit institution. Tulane University Of Louisiana posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,678. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,082. Graduates carry a median of $22,077 in student loans.
Southern College Of Optometry landed the #25 spot in the Southeast Region this year. Set in Memphis, TN, Southern College Of Optometry is a private not-for-profit institution. Median early-career earnings reach $106,728.
Not far behind, these graduate schools also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
These graduate schools also performed well in our Best Graduate Schools ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | University Of Central Florida | Orlando, FL |
| 52 | Georgia College And State University | Milledgeville, GA |
| 53 | East Carolina University | Greenville, NC |
| 54 | Lipscomb University | Nashville, TN |
| 55 | Centre College | Danville, KY |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 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
See our data sources and methodologies.
