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2023 Best Value Colleges for Registered Nursing (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

474 Ranked Colleges
67,149 Degrees Awarded
$3,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 266,651 registered nursing students received their degree, making the major the 3rd most popular in the country.

Across the Southeast region, there were 67,149 registered nursing graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 474 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in registered nursing. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great registered nursing programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the registered nursing program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region registered nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Registered Nursing (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

1
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Duke University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Durham, North Carolina, and it awarded 147 ’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region registered nursing students whose families make $0-$30k list, Duke has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Duke University is $371 for southeast region registered nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Duke University

2
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Florida is a large school located in Gainesville, Florida that handed out 200 ’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

UF did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Florida is $65 for Southeast Region Registered Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at UF

3

Out of the 474 schools in the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Regional Technical College landed the #3 spot on the list. Southern Regional Technical College is a public institution located in Thomasville, Georgia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 105 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Southwest Georgia Technical College also did well on our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Southwest Georgia Technical College is $-1,696 for southeast region registered nursing students whose families make $0-$30k. A negative average net price may seem strange, but it generally means that financial aid will more than cover the cost to attend the school.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Southwest Georgia Technical College

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a large school located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina that handed out 106 ’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

UNC Chapel Hill not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UNC Chapel Hill is $3,753 for Southeast Region Registered Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at UNC Chapel Hill

5
Trident Technical College crest
Trident Technical College
Charleston, South Carolina

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Trident Technical College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Charleston, South Carolina, this fairly large public school awarded 191 degrees to qualified ’s registered nursing students in 2020-2021.

Trident Technical College also claimed a top spot on our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Trident Technical College is $-366 for southeast region registered nursing students whose families make $0-$30k. The negative number means the student will receive more financial aid on average than it costs to attend the school.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Trident Technical College

6
Emory crest
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia

With a ranking of #6, Emory University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Emory is located in Atlanta, Georgia and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 386 ’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southeast region registered nursing students whose families make $0-$30k list, Emory has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $8,538 for Southeast Region Registered Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Emory.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Emory University

7

University of South Florida - Main Campus came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of South Florida - Main Campus is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 726 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

USF Tampa excels when it comes to registered nursing quality. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $4,176 for Southeast Region Registered Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend USF Tampa.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at USF Tampa

8
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

University of Virginia - Main Campus ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Charlottesville, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s registered nursing degrees to 265 students in 2020-2021.

University of Virginia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Virginia is $12,476 for Southeast Region Registered Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Registered Nursing at University of Virginia

9
Palm Beach State College crest
Palm Beach State College
Lake Worth, Florida

Palm Beach State College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Palm Beach State College is a large public school situated in Lake Worth, Florida. It awarded 349 ’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Palm Beach State College is also in the top of our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Palm Beach State College is $8,452 for Southeast Region Registered Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Palm Beach State College

10

Florida International University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Florida International University is a public institution located in Miami, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 322 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

FIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Florida International University is $3,196 for Southeast Region Registered Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Florida International University

11

With a ranking of #11, Florida State College at Jacksonville did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Florida State College at Jacksonville is located in Jacksonville, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 647 ’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, FSCJ is also in the top of our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend FSCJ is $1,144 for southeast region registered nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Florida State College at Jacksonville

12
SPC crest
St Petersburg College
Clearwater, Florida

St Petersburg College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Clearwater, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s registered nursing degrees to 688 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for SPC is $676 for southeast region registered nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full SPC Registered Nursing Report

13

University of Central Florida came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UCF is a public institution located in Orlando, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 859 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UCF did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Central Florida is $4,468 for Southeast Region Registered Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Registered Nursing at UCF

14

West Georgia Technical College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. West Georgia Technical College is a public institution located in Waco, Georgia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 52 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for West Georgia Technical College is $247 for Southeast Region Registered Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at West Georgia Technical College

15
Pensacola State crest
Pensacola State College
Pensacola, Florida

Pensacola State College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Pensacola State College is a medium-sized school located in Pensacola, Florida that handed out 273 ’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $1,949 for Southeast Region Registered Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Pensacola State.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Pensacola State

16
Valencia College crest
Valencia College
Orlando, Florida

Valencia College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. This large school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it awarded 388 ’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

Valencia College excels when it comes to registered nursing quality. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Valencia College is $4,942 for southeast region registered nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Valencia College

17
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Florida State is located in Tallahassee, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 107 ’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

Florida State excels when it comes to registered nursing quality. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The yearly cost to attend Florida State University is $4,950 for southeast region registered nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Florida State University

18

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Valdosta, Georgia, this small public school awarded 17 diplomas to qualified ’s registered nursing students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $1,613 for southeast region registered nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wiregrass Georgia Technical College.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College

19

With a ranking of #19, Chattahoochee Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Chattahoochee Technical College is a public institution located in Marietta, Georgia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 53 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Chattahoochee Technical College is $2,058 for Southeast Region Registered Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Registered Nursing at Chattahoochee Technical College

20
NKU crest
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, Kentucky

Northern Kentucky University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. NKU is located in Highland Heights, Kentucky and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 717 ’s registered nursing degrees to qualified students.

On top of its placing in this ranking, NKU also did well on our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northern Kentucky University is $4,632 for southeast region registered nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Northern Kentucky University Registered Nursing Report

21
MDC crest
Miami Dade College
Miami, Florida

With a ranking of #21, Miami Dade College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. MDC is a public institution located in Miami, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 843 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on this list, MDC is in the top on our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Miami Dade College is $4,482 for Southeast Region Registered Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Miami Dade College

22
CGTC crest
Central Georgia Technical College
Warner Robins, Georgia

Central Georgia Technical College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. CGTC is a public institution located in Warner Robins, Georgia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 73 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend CGTC is $1,458 for Southeast Region Registered Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at Central Georgia Technical College

23

With a ranking of #23, The University of West Florida did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UWF is a fairly large school located in Pensacola, Florida that handed out 508 ’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UWF also did well on our “Best Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for UWF is $4,288 for Southeast Region Registered Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Registered Nursing at The University of West Florida

24
Indian River State College crest
Indian River State College
Fort Pierce, Florida

Indian River State College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indian River State College is a fairly large public school situated in Fort Pierce, Florida. It awarded 267 ’s registered nursing degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $2,686 for southeast region registered nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indian River State College.

Full Indian River State College Registered Nursing Report

25

Hillsborough Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. HCC is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 235 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $2,919 for Southeast Region Registered Nursing students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend HCC.

Read more about Registered Nursing at HCC

Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
NFC crest
North Florida College
Madison, Florida
27
GCSC crest
Gulf Coast State College
Panama City, Florida
28
FGC crest
Florida Gateway College
Lake City, Florida
29
30
Augusta University crest
Augusta University
Augusta, Georgia
31
UNF crest
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
32
33
34
35
Albany Technical College crest
Albany Technical College
Albany, Georgia
36
Chipola crest
Chipola College
Marianna, Florida
37
FAU crest
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida
38
Marshall University crest
Marshall University
Huntington, West Virginia
39
40
Tallahassee Community College crest
Tallahassee Community College
Tallahassee, Florida
41
PHSC crest
Pasco-Hernando State College
New Port Richey, Florida
42
Ole Miss crest
University of Mississippi
University, Mississippi
43
Forsyth Tech crest
Forsyth Technical Community College
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
44
Pitt Community College crest
Pitt Community College
Winterville, North Carolina
45
46
47
Appalachian State crest
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina
48
Athens Technical College crest
Athens Technical College
Athens, Georgia
49
50
ECU crest
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Registered Nursing Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 Wytheville Community College Wytheville, VA
52 University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC
53 Midlands Technical College West Columbia, SC
54 Aiken Technical College Graniteville, SC
55 Hinds Community College Raymond, MS
56 Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Salisbury, NC
57 Coahoma Community College Clarksdale, MS
58 Florida SouthWestern State College Fort Myers, FL
59 University of North Georgia Dahlonega, GA
60 North Georgia Technical College Clarkesville, GA
61 Vance-Granville Community College Henderson, NC
62 Southwest Tennessee Community College Memphis, TN
63 Seminole State College of Florida Sanford, FL
64 Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, NC
65 Southern Crescent Technical College Griffin, GA
Rank College Location
66 Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NC
66 Richmond Community College Hamlet, NC
68 Spartanburg Community College Spartanburg, SC
69 Southwest Mississippi Community College Summit, MS
69 Northwest Florida State College Niceville, FL
71 Eastern Florida State College Cocoa, FL
72 Columbus Technical College Columbus, GA

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