by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which grad school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Doctor's Degree Colleges in the Southeast Region ranking is part of that endeavor.
Jump to Any of the Following Sections: * Our Methodology
After analyzing 165 grad schools in the Southeast Region , we came up with our list of those that offered the best doctorate degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best grad schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
The average early-career salary of those graduating with a doctorate degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. While doctorate degree recipients from schools in the Southeast Region earn an average starting salary of $74,087, those from the top 23 school on this list made an average of $74,854.
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that graduate students take on while pursuing their doctorate degree. The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
Our Best Doctorate Degree Schools considers other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt. 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.
To learn more, visit our graduate school ranking methodology page.
Still not sure what graduate degree you wish to pursue? You may want to visit our Best Master's Degree Schools ranking.
Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:
Our analysis found Vanderbilt University to be the best grad school for doctorate degrees in the Southeast Region in this year’s ranking. Vanderbilt is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Nashville, Tennessee. It awarded 787 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $91,182 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Duke University. The school came in at #2 in the Southeast Region on this year’s best doctorate degree schools ranking. Located in Durham, North Carolina, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 949 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from Duke is $92,967 during the early years of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Atlanta, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate degrees to 577 students in 2020-2021.
The excellent doctorate degree programs at University of Virginia - Main Campus helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the Southeast Region. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, the large public school awarded 794 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from University of Virginia go into careers with an average salary of $105,096 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #5 on our Best Doctorate Degrees in the Southeast Region list means Emory University is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 763 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $68,126 during the early years of their career.
University of Florida did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #6. UF is a public institution located in Gainesville, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,778 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a doctorate degree from UF make an average of $73,660 per year during the early years of their career.
Virginia Tech ranked #7 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in Blacksburg, Virginia, the large public school awarded 655 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $71,981 during the early years of their career.
North Carolina State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Raleigh, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate degrees to 630 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from NC State is $71,443 during the early years of their career.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked #9 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. UNC Chapel Hill is a large public school situated in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It awarded 1,144 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a doctorate degree from UNC Chapel Hill make an average of $75,653 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Georgia came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Athens, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate degrees to 912 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from UGA is $70,336 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #11, Samford University did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Samford is located in Birmingham, Alabama and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 471 doctorate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from Samford is $80,466 during the early years of their career.
University of Miami did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #12. U Miami is a private not-for-profit institution located in Coral Gables, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 861 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from U Miami go into careers with an average salary of $67,960 during the early years of their career.
Shenandoah University landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Shenandoah is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Winchester, Virginia. It awarded 283 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Shenandoah make an average of $92,214 a year.
Clemson University did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #14. Clemson is a public institution located in Clemson, South Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 225 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Clemson make an average of $51,658 a year.
Columbia International University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Columbia, South Carolina, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 27 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.
Auburn University landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Auburn is a public institution located in Auburn, Alabama. The school has a large population, and it awarded 532 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Auburn make an average of $86,690 a year.
Tulane University of Louisiana ranked #17 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Tulane is a private not-for-profit institution located in New Orleans, Louisiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 536 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from Tulane is $57,213 during the early years of their career.
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville ranked #18 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, the large public school handed out 609 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from UT Knoxville is $67,466 during the early years of their career.
Belmont University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 270 diplomas to qualifed doctorate degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $71,094 during the early years of their career.
Washington and Lee University landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Washington and Lee is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lexington, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 118 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from Washington and Lee is $63,586 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #21, William & Mary did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, the medium-sized public school handed out 240 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from William & Mary is $75,186 during the early years of their career.
Nova Southeastern University landed the #22 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. NUS Florida is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It awarded 1,622 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from NUS Florida make an average of $76,324 a year.
Wake Forest University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and it awarded 379 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Wake Forest University make an average of $57,409 a year.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. VCU is a large public school situated in Richmond, Virginia. It awarded 795 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $90,633 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #25, Carson - Newman University did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Carson - Newman University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Jefferson City, Tennessee that handed out 41 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $63,294 during the early years of their career.
View Best Doctorate Degree Schools Nationwide >
These schools also performed well in our Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach | Daytona Beach, FL |
| 27 | Appalachian State University | Boone, NC |
| 28 | Southern Adventist University | Collegedale, TN |
| 29 | Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL |
| 30 | University of Kentucky | Lexington, KY |
| 31 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL |
| 32 | Florida Institute of Technology | Melbourne, FL |
| 33 | George Mason University | Fairfax, VA |
| 34 | Liberty University | Lynchburg, VA |
More about our data sources and methodologies.