There are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Associate Degree Colleges in the Southeast Region ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
We analyzed 337 colleges and universities across the Southeast Region to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
Better Early-Career Average Salaries
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of associate graduates during the early years of their career. A associate degree holder from a school in the Southeast Region makes an average starting salary of $41,369, but the students who attended schools in the top 23 of our list make an average of $42,723.
Starting Salary ( 24801 to 52707 )
Student Loan Borrowing
Students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their associate so we factor that into our rankings as well.
When attending a school in the Southeast Region , associate degree students accumulate an average of $11,612 in student debt before graduation.
We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty associate recipients will have paying back their loans.
Additional Ranking Factors We Use
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
These factors include things like the educational resources, the demand associated with the school, whether or not the school offers online classes, and the student body caliber - just to name a few.
Are you more interested in the top associate degree schools in your area? Try narrowing this list by location. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
Top Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale tops this year’s ranking as the best school for associate degrees in the Southeast Region for overall quality. Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the large private not-for-profit school awarded 3,134 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale make an average of $39,572 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $12,634.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Regional Technical College. The school came in at #2 in the Southeast Region on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. Southern Regional Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in Thomasville, Georgia that handed out 356 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Southwest Georgia Technical College make an average of $65,773 a year.
A rank of #3 on our Best Associate Degree in the Southeast Region list means Columbia Southern University is a great place for students working on their degree. Columbia Southern University is a private for-profit institution located in Orange Beach, Alabama. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,276 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Columbia Southern University make an average of $64,227 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $6,958 after getting their degree.
The excellent associate degree programs at Rasmussen University - Florida helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Southeast Region. Ocala, Florida is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 2,014 students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Rasmussen University - Florida make an average of $52,986 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $8,532 in student loans.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of South Florida - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 in the Southeast Region on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. USF Tampa is located in Tampa, Florida and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 162 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte landed the #6 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte is a small private not-for-profit school located in Charlotte, North Carolina that handed out 217 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from JWU Charlotte make an average of $27,514 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $29,179 after getting their degree.
ECPI University landed the #7 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the fairly large private for-profit school awarded 1,812 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from ECPI University go into careers with an average salary of $40,999 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $11,010.
Lanier Technical College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #8. Lanier Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in Gainesville, Georgia that handed out 396 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Lanier Technical College go into careers with an average salary of $43,454 during the early years of their career.
Oxford College of Emory University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in Oxford, Georgia, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 441 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Oxford College is $7,808 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $38,430 after getting their degree.
Valencia College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #10. This large public school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it awarded 8,600 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from Valencia College go into careers with an average salary of $30,480 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $9,132.
North Carolina State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. This large public school is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it awarded 114 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a associate degree from NC State go into careers with an average salary of $38,392 during the early years of their career.
Florida Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #12. Florida Institute of Technology is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Melbourne, Florida that handed out 36 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Southern Adventist University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Collegedale, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 136 students in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $61,225 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #14, Northern Virginia Community College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Northern Virginia Community College is a large public school situated in Annandale, Virginia. It awarded 5,692 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Northern Virginia Community College make an average of $38,032 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $13,140 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #15, Chattahoochee Technical College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Chattahoochee Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in Marietta, Georgia that handed out 811 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Chattahoochee Technical College make an average of $52,430 per year during the early years of their career.
Athens Technical College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. This small public school is located in Athens, Georgia, and it awarded 420 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Athens Technical College make an average of $55,212 a year.
Hillsborough Community College did quite well in the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Tampa, Florida, the large public school handed out 3,920 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from HCC make an average of $38,330 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $12,123.
Palm Beach State College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. This large public school is located in Lake Worth, Florida, and it awarded 4,046 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Palm Beach State College is $37,267 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $9,930 in student loans.
With a ranking of #19, Sampson Community College did quite well on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in Clinton, North Carolina, the small public school handed out 354 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $66,424 during the early years of their career.
Seminole State College of Florida ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in Sanford, Florida, the fairly large public school awarded 2,593 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Seminole State is $35,719 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,903 after getting their degree.
Virginia Tech landed the #21 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Virginia Tech is a large public school located in Blacksburg, Virginia that handed out 35 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Virginia Tech is $36,083 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $30,528 after getting their degree.
Broward College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Fort Lauderdale, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 6,046 students in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from BC make an average of $38,396 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $9,979 in student loans.
Florida State College at Jacksonville ranked #23 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. FSCJ is located in Jacksonville, Florida and has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3,210 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a associate degree from FSCJ go into careers with an average salary of $38,754 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $8,538 in student loans.
Southeastern University landed the #24 spot on the 2025 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. SEU is located in Lakeland, Florida and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 184 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a associate degree from SEU make an average of $28,779 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $15,819 after getting their degree.
Herzing University - Birmingham came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Birmingham, Alabama, and it awarded 90 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a associate degree from Herzing University - Birmingham make an average of $44,785 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,470 after getting their degree.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
