Rankings / By State
Best Nursing Colleges in Georgia
- 40
- Schools
- $47,508
- Avg. Earnings
- 41%
- Avg. Graduation
- $16,889
- Avg. Net Price
- $20,946
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 40 schools run from $34,996 to $80,137, a 2.3× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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Dalton State College delivers the most for the money: roughly $40,251 in median earnings against $5,012 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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Dalton State College is the lowest-cost school here at $5,012 a year in net price.
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Emory University graduates 91% of its students, versus a 41% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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Georgia Military College carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.22× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- Dalton State College costs $5,012 a year and Spelman College costs $38,967. Yet their graduates earn $40,251 and $59,993, nowhere near the $33,955 price gap.
- On value, Dalton State College beats Emory University: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
- Graduation rates split the field: Emory University finishes 91% of students while South Georgia State College finishes 18%. Same ranking, very different odds of leaving with a degree.
The Takeaway
The schools that win this ranking are not the priciest or the most selective. They turn students into earners without burying them in debt, which is exactly what our outcomes-first methodology is built to surface.
What This Means for Students
If you are choosing from this list, start with Dalton State College and Emory University. Pull each school's net price for your income band, weigh projected earnings against the debt you would take on, and let payoff rather than prestige drive your shortlist.
Why this ranking matters
Healthcare is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $47K within a decade, and registered nurse roles are projected to grow 6%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Emory University #1 overall | $80,137 ▲ +69% vs avg | $22,585 | 91% | 81 |
| 2 Dalton State College #2 overall | $40,251 ▼ -15% vs avg | $5,012 | 28% | 79 |
| 3 Mercer University #3 overall | $58,354 ▲ +23% vs avg | $23,847 | 72% | 78 |
| $43,184 ▼ -9% vs avg | $6,928 | 21% | 78 | |
| $49,179 ▲ +4% vs avg | $8,365 | 38% | 78 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Nursing Colleges in Georgia
This analysis ranks 40 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $47,508 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 41% and an average net price of $16,889.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Dalton State College — Net Price: $5,012 | Graduation Rate: 28%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Emory University — 91% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Emory University — Median alumni earnings: $80,137
Research Note
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Healthcare Workforce Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the U.S. healthcare workforce?
$47,391
Median earnings (10yr)
38%
Median graduation rate
$15,888
Median net price
1.5%
Avg. mobility rate
Few sectors of the economy depend more directly on what colleges produce than healthcare. Chronic shortages across nursing and allied health have made workforce training a bottleneck for the entire system. Schools rise on this list by combining rigorous instruction with clinical placements and high licensure pass rates, the bridge between enrolling and actually practicing.
Across the 40 schools on this list, graduates earn a median of $47,391 ten years after they first enrolled. The median graduation rate is 38%. Net price, what students pay after grants, runs a median of $15,888 a year, with about $22,250 in median federal debt at graduation. An average of 41% of students receive Pell grants, and the typical school moves low-income students into the top income quintile at a rate of 1.5%.
What we’re seeing: demographic pressure keeps demand high, and programs with embedded clinical networks convert that demand into employment fastest. Emory University leads the list, and graduates across these programs earn a median of $47,391 ten years after enrollment. The constraint is not jobs. It is clinical capacity and licensure throughput, and that is where the strongest programs pull away.
The podium
Build your ranking
Drag a pillar — schools re-rank live.
Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Emory University lands at #1 with a 81/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (70/100). Graduates earn a median $80,137 a decade after enrolling, 69% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,585 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Dalton State College lands at #2 with a 79/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $40,251 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,012 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Mercer University lands at #3 with a 78/100 composite, led by academic quality (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (46/100). Graduates earn a median $58,354 a decade after enrolling, 23% above this list's average, and net price runs $23,847 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Georgia Highlands College lands at #4 with a 78/100 composite, led by value per dollar (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (47/100). Graduates earn a median $43,184 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,928 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Clayton State University lands at #5 with a 78/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (58/100). Graduates earn a median $49,179 a decade after enrolling, 4% above this list's average, and net price runs $8,365 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Piedmont University lands at #6 with a 77/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (50/100). Graduates earn a median $49,130 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,599 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Georgia Southwestern State University lands at #7 with a 77/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $48,757 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,019 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Georgia Southern University lands at #8 with a 76/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (63/100). Graduates earn a median $53,236 a decade after enrolling, 12% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,267 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
University of West Georgia lands at #9 with a 76/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (61/100). Graduates earn a median $49,587 a decade after enrolling, 4% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,786 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Gordon State College lands at #10 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (41/100). Graduates earn a median $37,871 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,105 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Milledgeville, GA · 78% accepted · $20,686 net
Why it ranks #11
Georgia College & State University lands at #11 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (58/100). Graduates earn a median $58,140 a decade after enrolling, 22% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,686 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Kennesaw State University lands at #12 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (63/100). Graduates earn a median $57,552 a decade after enrolling, 21% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,048 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College lands at #13 with a 74/100 composite, led by value per dollar (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $34,996 a decade after enrolling, 26% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,842 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
Albany State University lands at #14 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $40,674 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $11,898 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Valdosta State University lands at #15 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (62/100). Graduates earn a median $49,361 a decade after enrolling, 4% above this list's average, and net price runs $10,945 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
Brenau University lands at #16 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (46/100). Graduates earn a median $54,003 a decade after enrolling, 14% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,924 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
University of North Georgia lands at #17 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (59/100). Graduates earn a median $50,135 a decade after enrolling, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $9,823 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
Middle Georgia State University lands at #18 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (75/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $40,863 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,361 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
Augusta University lands at #19 with a 70/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (67/100) and pulled down by social mobility (53/100). Graduates earn a median $48,472 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,787 a year, well under the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
Georgia State University lands at #20 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Graduates earn a median $47,384 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,931 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #21
Agnes Scott College lands at #21 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $56,274 a decade after enrolling, 18% above this list's average, and net price runs $24,754 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #22
Columbus State University lands at #22 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (58/100). Graduates earn a median $44,544 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,115 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #23
College of Coastal Georgia lands at #23 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (76/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $39,318 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,261 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #24
LaGrange College lands at #24 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $51,745 a decade after enrolling, 9% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,875 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #25
Georgia Military College lands at #25 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (74/100) and pulled down by academic quality (42/100). Graduates earn a median $39,257 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,923 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #26
Wesleyan College lands at #26 with a 67/100 composite, led by academic quality (74/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (58/100). Graduates earn a median $44,317 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,724 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #27
South Georgia State College lands at #27 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (77/100) and pulled down by academic quality (42/100). Graduates earn a median $35,697 a decade after enrolling, 25% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,767 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #28
Reinhardt University lands at #28 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $46,541 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $24,425 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #29
Berry College lands at #29 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (53/100). Graduates earn a median $53,800 a decade after enrolling, 13% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,320 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #30
Spelman College lands at #30 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (31/100). Graduates earn a median $59,993 a decade after enrolling, 26% above this list's average, and net price runs $38,967 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #31
Truett McConnell University lands at #31 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (78/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (55/100). Graduates earn a median $46,700 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $22,227 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #32
Andrew College lands at #32 with a 66/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (60/100) and pulled down by academic quality (47/100). Graduates earn a median $38,475 a decade after enrolling, 19% below this list's average, and net price runs $21,823 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #33
Shorter University lands at #33 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $44,604 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,646 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #34
Georgia Gwinnett College lands at #34 with a 62/100 composite, led by value per dollar (64/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $47,730 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,844 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #35
Thomas University lands at #35 with a 57/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (64/100) and pulled down by academic quality (41/100). Graduates earn a median $49,716 a decade after enrolling, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,499 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Atlanta, GA · 91% accepted · $11,453 net
Why it ranks #36
Georgia State University-Perimeter College lands at #36 with a 57/100 composite, led by value per dollar (70/100) and pulled down by social mobility (46/100). Graduates earn a median $47,384 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $11,453 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #37
Life University lands at #37 with a 55/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (65/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (40/100). Graduates earn a median $47,397 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $29,791 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Mount Vernon, GA · 96% accepted · $26,054 net
Why it ranks #38
Brewton-Parker Christian University lands at #38 with a 54/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (56/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (45/100). Graduates earn a median $42,009 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $26,054 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #39
Herzing University-Atlanta lands at #39 with a 54/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (57/100) and pulled down by academic quality (27/100). Graduates earn a median $36,909 a decade after enrolling, 22% below this list's average, and net price runs $21,679 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #40
Toccoa Falls College lands at #40 with a 52/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (55/100) and pulled down by academic quality (47/100). Graduates earn a median $36,630 a decade after enrolling, 23% below this list's average, and net price runs $21,642 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 40 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become Registered Nurses and related roles — a field with $86,070 median pay and 6% projected growth.
See the Registered Nurse career guide →Choosing the right nursing college in Georgia is a crucial step for aspiring healthcare professionals. With 39 nursing programs across the state, students face a range of options that can significantly impact their future careers. The right choice can lead to strong earnings and job security in a growing field, making this decision more important than ever.
What sets the top nursing programs apart are their outcomes, which include graduation rates, post-graduation earnings, and student debt levels. In the list below, you'll see schools that not only prepare students for the workforce but also help them achieve financial stability. For example, Emory University leads the pack with an impressive graduation rate of 91% and average earnings that top $80,000.
Take Emory University and Augusta University as examples of contrasting paths. Emory graduates enjoy average earnings of $80,137 and a solid graduation rate of 91%, while Augusta University has earnings of $48,472 with a graduation rate of only 49%. This highlights the importance of considering both income potential and completion rates when making a decision about where to study nursing.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in this ranking, and the measure comes from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built from more than 30 million anonymized tax records. Across the 30 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 1.5%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. Spelman College leads the group at 3.3%, with Albany State University (2.6%) and Mercer University (2.1%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 9.6% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Albany State University enrolls the most, at 23.3%, a sign it is reaching the students mobility is meant to lift. A high mobility rate paired with strong access is the combination that changes a generation's trajectory.
For the low-income students who do enroll, the success rate (the odds of reaching the top quintile) averages 18.8% across the list, peaking at 49.9% at Emory University.
These campuses can also be measured on social capital: the cross-class friendships Opportunity Insights links to long-run economic outcomes. Economic connectedness here averages 1.27, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and Emory University is highest at 1.78.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
When we look closely at the data, a notable pattern emerges. Emory University outperforms others with its high graduation rate and earnings potential, while Augusta University's lower graduation rate and earnings indicate that completing a nursing program is a critical factor for long-term success. This highlights how important it is to choose a program that supports students through to graduation and into the workforce.
After reviewing this list, consider how these figures align with your own priorities. Think about factors like location, program fit, and your financial situation. For instance, if minimizing costs is essential, Dalton State College offers a very low net price of $5,012, but it comes with a graduation rate of only 28%. Weighing these elements against the outcomes can help clarify which program suits you best.
Ultimately, the decision to pursue nursing is about more than just choosing a school; it's about paving the way for a stable future. Nursing degrees can lead to meaningful careers with solid earning potential, but that path starts with a smart choice of college. For families, the stakes are high, and understanding these outcomes can make all the difference in securing a successful future for their loved ones.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Nursing Colleges in Georgia: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Nursing Colleges in Georgia ranking? +
Emory University in Atlanta, GA ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Nursing Colleges in Georgia ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $80,137 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 91% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Emory University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $80,137 ten years after enrollment, well above the $47,508 average across the 40 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Dalton State College leads: graduates earn a median $40,251 against net price of about $5,012 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Emory University has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 91%, compared with a 41% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $16,889 a year across the 40 ranked schools with cost data. Dalton State College is among the most affordable at roughly $5,012. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Nursing Colleges in Georgia ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 40 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
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