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Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region

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2023 Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region

414 Colleges
$43,116 Avg Salary
$21,919 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Health Professions Associate Degree School for You

In 2020-2021, 977,800 health professions students received a degree or certificate, making the major the #2 most popular in the country.

There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 414 schools in the Southeast Region to see which ones offered the best associate degree programs for students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school is, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for health professions majors pursuing a associate degree.

Top 25 Top Southeast Region Schools for an Associate in Health Professions

Our 2023 rankings named Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting the best school in the Southeast Region for health professions students working on their associate degree. Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Nashville.

Read full report on Health Professions at Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Standard Healthcare Services - College of Nursing. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the suburb of Falls Church, Standard College of Nursing is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

Read full report on Health Professions at Standard Healthcare Services - College of Nursing

The excellent associate degree programs at American Public University System helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best health professions schools in the Southeast Region . Located in the fringe town of Charles Town, American Military University is a private for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

Full Health Professions at American Public University System Report

Out of the 414 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Herzing University - Atlanta landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the city of Atlanta, Herzing University - Atlanta is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Health Professions at Herzing University - Atlanta Report

#5

Eastern Virginia Career College

Fredericksburg, VA

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Eastern Virginia Career College is a great place for health professions students working on their associate degree. Eastern Virginia Career College is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the midsize suburb of Fredericksburg.

Full Health Professions at Eastern Virginia Career College Report

Rasmussen University - Florida came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the city of Ocala, Rasmussen University - Florida is a private for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.

Full Health Professions at Rasmussen University - Florida Report

With a ranking of #7, Cabarrus College of Health Sciences did quite well on this year’s best schools for health professions students working on their associate degree. Cabarrus College of Health Sciences is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Concord.

Read full report on Health Professions at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences

Sentara College of Health Sciences did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for health professions students to get a associate degree. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the suburb of Chesapeake, Sentara College of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Health Professions at Sentara College of Health Sciences Report

Ultimate Medical Academy - Clearwater did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for health professions students to get a associate degree. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Clearwater, UMA Clearwater is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.

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Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree health professions programs. Located in the midsize city of Baton Rouge, FranU is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

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#11

Trident Technical College

Charleston, SC

Trident Technical College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Trident Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Charleston.

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Herzing University - Kenner ranked #12 on this year’s Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Herzing University - Kenner is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Kenner.

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#13

Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay

Saint Petersburg, FL

Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for health professions students to get a associate degree. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in the city of Saint Petersburg, Galen College of Nursing - Tampa Bay is a private for-profit college with a small student population.

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#14

University of Mount Olive

Mount Olive, NC

With a ranking of #14, University of Mount Olive did quite well on this year’s best schools for health professions students working on their associate degree. UMO is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Mount Olive.

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#15

Louisiana College

Pineville, LA

With a ranking of #15, Louisiana College did quite well on this year’s best schools for health professions students working on their associate degree. Located in the suburb of Pineville, Louisiana College is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Health Professions at Louisiana College Report

With a ranking of #16, Carolinas College of Health Sciences did quite well on this year’s best schools for health professions students working on their associate degree. Located in the large city of Charlotte, Carolinas College of Health Sciences is a public college with a small student population.

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Herzing University - Birmingham landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree health professions programs. Herzing University - Birmingham is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Birmingham.

Full Health Professions at Herzing University - Birmingham Report

#18

Centra College of Nursing

Lynchburg, VA

Centra College of Nursing came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Centra College of Nursing is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg.

Full Health Professions at Centra College of Nursing Report

#19

AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL

AdventHealth University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for health professions students to get a associate degree. It came in at #19 on the list. AHU is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Orlando.

Read full report on Health Professions at AdventHealth University

Herzing University - Winter Park ranked #20 on this year’s Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Herzing University - Winter Park is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Health Professions at Herzing University - Winter Park

#21

South College

Knoxville, TN

South College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree health professions programs. South College is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in the midsize city of Knoxville.

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South University, Tampa landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree health professions programs. South University, Tampa is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the city of Tampa.

Full Health Professions at South University, Tampa Report

With a ranking of #23, Baptist Health College - Little Rock did quite well on this year’s best schools for health professions students working on their associate degree. Located in the medium-sized city of Little Rock, BHCLR is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Health Professions at Baptist Health College - Little Rock

Galen College of Nursing - Louisville came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Galen College of Nursing - Louisville is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Louisville.

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#25

South University, Montgomery

Montgomery, AL

South University, Montgomery landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree health professions programs. Located in the medium-sized city of Montgomery, South University, Montgomery is a private for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Health Professions at South University, Montgomery

Rest of the Top Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region

#26

South University, Richmond

Glen Allen, VA
#27

South University, Savannah

Savannah, GA
#28

South University, Columbia

Columbia, SC
#29

Hodges University

Naples, FL
#33

Southside College of Health Sciences

Colonial Heights, VA
#37

Albany State University

Albany, GA
#38

South University, West Palm Beach

Royal Palm Beach, FL
#45

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY
#46

Polk State College

Winter Haven, FL
#47

Radford University

Radford, VA
#50

ATA College

Louisville, KY

Additional Award Winners

This list represents the rest of the colleges awarded a Best Health Professions Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 15% of the 414 different Southeast health professions schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
51 Southern Regional Technical College Thomasville, GA
52 South University, Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, VA
53 Athens Technical College Athens, GA
54 Tennessee State University Nashville, TN
55 Jackson State Community College Jackson, TN
56 Arkansas State University - Main Campus Jonesboro, AR
57 Georgia Military College Milledgeville, GA
58 Georgia State University-Perimeter College Atlanta, GA
59 Valencia College Orlando, FL
60 Miami Dade College Miami, FL
61 Columbia Southern University Orange Beach, AL
62 Sullivan University Louisville, KY

Honorable Mentions

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

Rank College Location
63 MedQuest College Louisville, KY
64 University of Louisiana at Monroe Monroe, LA
65 Florida SouthWestern State College Fort Myers, FL
66 Santa Fe College Gainesville, FL
67 Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta, GA
68 Remington College - Lafayette Campus Lafayette, LA
69 Southern Crescent Technical College Griffin, GA
70 North Florida College Madison, FL
71 Jefferson Regional Medical Center School of Nursing Pine Bluff, AR
72 Taylor College Belleview, FL
73 Arkansas State University - Newport Newport, AR
74 Hillsborough Community College Tampa, FL
75 Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NC
76 Gwinnett Technical College Lawrenceville, GA
77 University of Charleston Charleston, WV
78 University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College North Little Rock, AR
79 Southeastern College-West Palm Beach West Palm Beach, FL
80 Oconee Fall Line Technical College Sandersville, GA
81 HCI College West Palm Beach, FL
82 Broward College Fort Lauderdale, FL

Best Health Professions Colleges by State

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

State Degrees Awarded
North Carolina 18,617
West Virginia 5,590
South Carolina 7,283
Florida 49,046
Virginia 17,510
Arkansas 6,286
Mississippi 6,374
Louisiana 7,992
Alabama 12,636
Kentucky 10,991
Georgia 15,658
Tennessee 13,576

Health Professions Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Nursing 322,592
Health & Medical Administrative Services 89,359
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 84,492
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 84,274
Allied Health Professions 82,308
Public Health 40,596
Health Sciences & Services 35,945
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions 29,833
Mental & Social Health Services 29,053
Medicine 28,629
Dental Support Services 26,399
Communication Sciences 22,298
Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences 20,393
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science 18,901
Somatic Bodywork & Therapeutic Services 10,751
Health/Medical Prep Programs 9,210
Other Health Professions 7,984
Dentistry 6,770
Dietetics & Clinical Nutrition Services 6,158
Bioethics/Medical Ethics 5,115
Alternative Medicine & Systems 3,564
Chiropractic 2,658
Health Aids/Attendants/Orderlies 2,374
Medical Illustration & Informatics 2,089
Optometry 1,822
Advanced Dentistry & Oral Sciences 1,775
Ophthalmic & Optometric Support Services 960
Medical Science 909
Movement & Mind-Body Therapies 294
Alternative Medical Support Services 227
Energy & Biologically Based Therapies 68

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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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