2023 Most Popular Business Schools in the Southeast Region
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which business 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 and bootcamps that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
The Most Popular Business Schools in the Southeast Region ranking is one of many tools that Business Degree Central has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 842 schools in the Southeast Region to see which programs were the most popular for business students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
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Most Popular Business Schools in the Southeast Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Valencia College the most popular school in the Southeast Region for business students working on their degree. Valencia College is a public institution located in Orlando, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6,256 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $18,372 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $83. Once they receive their degree, Valencia College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,350 during the early year of their career. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Florida International University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Business Schools in the Southeast Region list. FIU is a large public school situated in Miami, Florida. It awarded 5,507 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from FIU accumulate an average of $23,098 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $93. During the early years of their career, FIU graduates make an average of $47,774 annually. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
Out of the 842 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Broward College landed the # 3 spot on the list. BC is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,837 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $15,086 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, BC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,319 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Liberty University is a great place for business students. Liberty University is a large private not-for-profit school located in Lynchburg, Virginia that handed out 4,352 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Liberty University accumulate an average of $30,497 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $420 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Liberty University graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,489 during the early year of their career. Around 48% of those degree recipients were women.
The programs at Miami Dade College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular business schools in the Southeast Region . This large public school is located in Miami, Florida, and it awarded 4,250 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,593 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, MDC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,255 during the early year of their career. Around 57% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #6, American Public University System did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for business students working. American Military University is located in Charles Town, West Virginia and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,056 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $25,070 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from American Military University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $51,395 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 35% were women.
University of Georgia did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for business students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in Athens, Georgia, the large public school awarded 3,966 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,110 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $222. During the early years of their career, UGA graduates make an average of $46,768 annually. Around 48% of those degree recipients were women.
The University of Alabama ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Business Schools in the Southeast Region list. UA is a large public school situated in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It awarded 3,385 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from UA accumulate an average of $24,032 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $629. Once they receive their degree, UA graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,898 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 47% were women.
University of Central Florida came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Business Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Orlando, Florida, the large public school awarded 3,351 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,607 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $211, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UCF graduates make an average of $44,595 annually. Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.
University of South Carolina - Columbia landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular business programs. Columbia, South Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 3,282 students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,887 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $403. Once they receive their degree, UofSC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $47,342 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 47% were women.
University of Florida came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Business Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. This large public school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 3,064 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,875 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $207. During the early years of their career, UF graduates make an average of $51,332 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 49% were women.
Florida State University ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Business Schools in the Southeast Region list. Florida State is a public institution located in Tallahassee, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3,026 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $20,926 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $171, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Florida State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,027 during the early years of their career. Around 42% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #13, University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for business students working. USF Tampa is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2,937 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from USF Tampa accumulate an average of $24,223 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $177.After graduating from USF Tampa, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,747 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 46% were women.
Read full report on University of South Florida - Main Campus
Columbia Southern University ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Business Schools in the Southeast Region list. Columbia Southern University is located in Orange Beach, Alabama and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,658 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,476 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Columbia Southern University graduates make an average of $55,041 annually. Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #15, Louisiana State University - Shreveport did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for business students working. Louisiana State University - Shreveport is a medium-sized public school located in Shreveport, Louisiana that handed out 2,421 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,179 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Louisiana State University - Shreveport graduates make an average of $36,501 annually. Around 48% of those degree recipients were women.
Florida State College at Jacksonville ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Business Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, the large public school handed out 2,277 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $19,613 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, FSCJ graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,241 during the early year of their career. Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.
Florida Atlantic University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Business Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Florida Atlantic University is a large public school located in Boca Raton, Florida that handed out 2,162 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,373 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $160, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from FAU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,652 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 48% were women.
With a ranking of #18, Wake Technical Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for business students working. Raleigh, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 2,054 students in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College accumulate an average of $22,490 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Wake Technical Community College graduates make an average of $34,991 annually. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #19, Auburn University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for business students working. Auburn is a public institution located in Auburn, Alabama. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2,049 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $22,004 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $582, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Auburn, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $49,769 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 41% were women.
Virginia Tech did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for business students. It came in at #20 on the list. Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, Virginia and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,025 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from Virginia Tech accumulate an average of $21,405 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $420 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Virginia Tech graduates make an average of $52,444 annually. Around 37% of those degree recipients were women.
University of Arkansas did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for business students. It came in at #21 on the list. UARK is located in Fayetteville, Arkansas and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,977 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from UARK accumulate an average of $22,930 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $332.After graduating from UARK, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $47,670 during the early years of their career. Around 38% of those degree recipients were women.
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Business Schools in the Southeast Region list. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a large public school located in Knoxville, Tennessee that handed out 1,939 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from UT Knoxville accumulate an average of $22,232 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $325 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UT Knoxville graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,189 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 40% were women.
George Mason University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Business Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. This large public school is located in Fairfax, Virginia, and it awarded 1,883 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $22,883 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $355.After graduating from GMU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $56,435 during the early years of their career. Around 46% of those degree recipients were women.
North Carolina State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for business students. It came in at #24 on the list. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, the large public school handed out 1,841 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,889 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $285, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from NC State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $49,709 during the early years of their career. Around 41% of those degree recipients were women.
Georgia State University ranked #25 on this year’s Most Popular Business Schools in the Southeast Region list. Georgia State is a large public school situated in Atlanta, Georgia. It awarded 1,760 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Georgia State accumulate an average of $27,737 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $138 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Georgia State graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,507 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 51% were women.
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Business Schools in the Southeast Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top 49 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Business Schools in the Southeast Region of the U.S.
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Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular business schools ranking:
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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