Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Georgia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Chamberlain University - Georgia, Clayton State University and Reinhardt University are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Georgia by graduate earnings. Chamberlain University - Georgia leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $83,188, College Scorecard. Emory University, Kennesaw State University and Augusta University award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Georgia: 758, 403 and 388 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 59 Georgia colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 8,419 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chamberlain University - Georgia Sandy Springs Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,188 | 358 | 50% | $31,557 | $39,146 |
| 2 | Clayton State University Morrow Public · Bachelor's degree | $82,714 | 61 | 40% | — | $37,783 |
| 3 | Reinhardt University Waleska Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $81,266 | 33 | 44% | $28,040 | $30,275 |
| 4 | Brenau University Gainesville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $80,786 | 123 | 33% | $21,115 | $42,187 |
| 5 | Kennesaw State University Kennesaw Public · Bachelor's degree | $80,560 | 403 | 52% | — | $25,093 |
| 6 | Emory University Atlanta Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $79,073 | 758 | 91% | $20,586 | $25,000 |
| 7 | Georgia State University Atlanta Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,165 | 255 | 53% | — | $26,430 |
| 8 | Georgia College & State University Milledgeville Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,087 | 213 | 64% | — | $25,000 |
| 9 | University of West Georgia Carrollton Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,140 | 185 | 43% | — | $25,000 |
| 10 | Mercer University Macon Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,787 | 180 | 70% | $22,641 | $29,161 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta Public · Associate degree | $86,454 | 49 | 38% | — | — |
| 2 | West Georgia Technical College Waco Public · Associate degree | $83,943 | 43 | 35% | — | $19,833 |
| 3 | Albany State University Albany Public · Associate degree | $79,737 | 279 | 31% | — | $27,482 |
| 4 | Southern Crescent Technical College Griffin Public · Associate degree | $77,547 | 78 | 58% | — | $15,500 |
| 5 | Athens Technical College Athens Public · Associate degree | $72,823 | 56 | 51% | — | $11,000 |
| 6 | Gwinnett Technical College Lawrenceville Public · Associate degree | $71,917 | 84 | 32% | — | $27,050 |
| 7 | Oconee Fall Line Technical College Sandersville Public · Associate degree | $71,239 | 77 | 65% | — | $13,644 |
| 8 | Southern Regional Technical College Thomasville Public · Associate degree | $69,971 | 104 | 31% | — | $10,531 |
| 9 | Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Valdosta Public · Associate degree | $69,235 | 90 | 50% | — | $11,000 |
| 10 | Augusta Technical College Augusta Public · Associate degree | $68,041 | 125 | 31% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Georgia
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emory University Atlanta Private not-for-profit | 758 | $79,073 |
| 2 | Kennesaw State University Kennesaw Public | 403 | $80,560 |
| 3 | Augusta University Augusta Public | 388 | $74,307 |
| 4 | Georgia Southern University Statesboro Public | 371 | $72,741 |
| 5 | Chamberlain University - Georgia Sandy Springs Private for-profit | 358 | $83,188 |
| 6 | Georgia State University Atlanta Public | 255 | $78,165 |
| 7 | University of North Georgia Dahlonega Public | 241 | $75,412 |
| 8 | Georgia College & State University Milledgeville Public | 213 | $78,087 |
| 9 | Columbus State University Columbus Public | 208 | $74,454 |
| 10 | University of West Georgia Carrollton Public | 185 | $77,140 |
ShowHide the other 49 Georgia colleges offering Registered Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Georgia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Georgia.
Which Georgia colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
Emory University (758 graduates a year), Kennesaw State University (403 graduates a year) and Augusta University (388 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Georgia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 59 Georgia colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Georgia?+
By graduate earnings, Chamberlain University - Georgia leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Georgia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $83,188, College Scorecard. Clayton State University and Reinhardt University follow. By degrees awarded, Emory University is the largest, with 758 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Georgia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Chamberlain University - Georgia tops the list at $83,188. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Georgia?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Georgia is $95,080 (median $93,550), across about 100,950 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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