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Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region

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2023 Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region

259 Colleges
$43,366 Avg Salary
$24,123 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Education School for You

With 327,871 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, education is the #4 most popular major in the United States.

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 259 schools in the Southeast Region to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Education Colleges.

Top 25 Top Southeast Region Schools in Education

#1

Stanly Community College

Albemarle, NC

Our 2023 rankings named Stanly Community College the best school in the Southeast Region for education students. Located in the town of Albemarle, Stanly Technical College is a public college with a small student population.

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#2

Duke University

Durham, NC

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Duke University is a great place for education students. Located in the city of Durham, Duke is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that education majors at Duke take out is $12,250.

Full Education at Duke University Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rasmussen University - Florida. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region list. Rasmussen University - Florida is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Ocala.

Education majors at Rasmussen University - Florida take out an average of $23,144 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#4

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN

Out of the 259 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Vanderbilt University landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the large city of Nashville, Vanderbilt is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.

Full Education at Vanderbilt University Report

#5

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Wake Forest University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.

Read full report on Education at Wake Forest University

University of Virginia - Main Campus landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best education programs. University of Virginia is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville.

Read full report on Education at University of Virginia - Main Campus

#7

University of Georgia

Athens, GA

University of Georgia did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for education students. It came in at #7 on the list. UGA is a very large public school located in the medium-sized city of Athens.

On average, education graduates from UGA take out $21,333 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $205, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Education at University of Georgia

#8

Berry College

Mount Berry, GA

With a ranking of #8, Berry College did quite well on this year’s best schools for education students. Located in the suburb of Mount Berry, Berry is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

While working on their degree, education majors at Berry accumulate an average of around $24,712 in student debt.

Read full report on Education at Berry College

#9

Augusta University

Augusta, GA

Augusta University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best education programs. Located in the medium-sized city of Augusta, Augusta University is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Education majors at Augusta University take out an average of $25,744 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Education at Augusta University Report

Central Piedmont Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Central Piedmont Community College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Charlotte.

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#11

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL

University of Florida ranked #11 on this year’s Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the city of Gainesville, UF is a public school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, education majors at UF accumulate an average of around $17,340 in student debt.

Full Education at University of Florida Report

#12

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, VA

Virginia Tech landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best education programs. Virginia Tech is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg.

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#13

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA

George Mason University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. GMU is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax.

After completing their degree, education graduates from GMU carry an average student debtload of $22,969. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $248.

Read full report on Education at George Mason University

#14

Eastern Mennonite University

Harrisonburg, VA

With a ranking of #14, Eastern Mennonite University did quite well on this year’s best schools for education students. Eastern Mennonite is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Harrisonburg.

Read full report on Education at Eastern Mennonite University

#15

University of North Georgia

Dahlonega, GA

University of North Georgia came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the town of Dahlonega, UNG is a public school with a large student population.

The average amount in student loans that education majors at UNG take out is $21,616.

Read full report on Education at University of North Georgia

#16

William & Mary

Williamsburg, VA

William & Mary landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best education programs. William & Mary is a medium-sized public school located in the small suburb of Williamsburg.

Read full report on Education at William & Mary

#17

Piedmont College

Demorest, GA

Piedmont College landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best education programs. Located in the town of Demorest, Piedmont College is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Education majors at Piedmont College take out an average of $37,500 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Education at Piedmont College

With a ranking of #18, Appalachian State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for education students. Appalachian State is a fairly large public school located in the town of Boone.

While working on their degree, education majors at Appalachian State accumulate an average of around $22,063 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $218.

Read full report on Education at Appalachian State University

#19

University of Louisville

Louisville, KY

University of Louisville did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for education students. It came in at #19 on the list. UofL is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Louisville.

The average amount in student loans that education majors at UofL take out is $23,971. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $263, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Education at University of Louisville

North Carolina State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the city of Raleigh, NC State is a public school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, education majors at NC State accumulate an average of around $22,391 in student debt.

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With a ranking of #21, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did quite well on this year’s best schools for education students. Located in the small city of Chapel Hill, UNC Chapel Hill is a public school with a very large student population.

Education majors at UNC Chapel Hill take out an average of $15,685 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Education at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Report

#22

John Brown University

Siloam Springs, AR

John Brown University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the distant town of Siloam Springs, JBU is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that education majors at JBU take out is $27,000.

Read full report on Education at John Brown University

#23

East Carolina University

Greenville, NC

With a ranking of #23, East Carolina University did quite well on this year’s best schools for education students. ECU is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville.

While working on their degree, education majors at ECU accumulate an average of around $25,827 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $279, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Education at East Carolina University Report

#24

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA

James Madison University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for education students. It came in at #24 on the list. Located in the small city of Harrisonburg, JMU is a public college with a very large student population.

Full Education at James Madison University Report

#25

Clemson University

Clemson, SC

Clemson University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the large suburb of Clemson, Clemson is a public school with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that education majors at Clemson take out is $24,501. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $336.

Read full report on Education at Clemson University

Rest of the Top Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region

#27

Georgia Military College

Milledgeville, GA
#30

Auburn University

Auburn, AL
#31

Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw, GA
#32

University of Richmond

University of Richmond, VA
#34

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL
#36

Southern Adventist University

Collegedale, TN
#37

Samford University

Birmingham, AL
#38

Campbell University

Buies Creek, NC

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Education Schools in the Southeast Region award.

Rank College Location
39 Marymount University Arlington, VA
40 Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FL
41 Bellarmine University Louisville, KY
42 Broward College Fort Lauderdale, FL
43 Florida International University Miami, FL
44 University of West Georgia Carrollton, GA
45 Clayton State University Morrow, GA
46 Valdosta State University Valdosta, GA
47 Belmont University Nashville, TN
48 Lipscomb University Nashville, TN
49 Louisiana State University - Shreveport Shreveport, LA
50 St Petersburg College Clearwater, FL
51 Stetson University DeLand, FL

Best Education Colleges by State

Explore the best education schools for a specific state in the Southeast region.

State Degrees Awarded
North Carolina 7,730
West Virginia 1,515
South Carolina 3,980
Florida 10,069
Virginia 9,522
Arkansas 4,954
Mississippi 4,219
Louisiana 2,977
Alabama 5,059
Kentucky 5,329
Georgia 9,722
Tennessee 5,194

Education Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Teacher Education Grade Specific 110,226
Educational Administration 46,469
Teacher Education Subject Specific 43,297
Special Education 36,792
General Education 29,810
Curriculum & Instruction 19,832
Student Counseling 13,858
Instructional Media Design 8,695
Teaching English or French 5,791
Other Education 4,858
Teaching Assistants 2,751
Educational Assessment 2,552
Multilingual Education 1,910
Education Philosophy 737
International Education 293

Related Major Annual Graduates
Social Sciences 205,984
Psychology 195,678
Communication & Journalism 120,571
Family, Consumer & Human Sciences 55,820
History 32,731

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • 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 the rest 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Horadrim.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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