Health care is a fast-paced, always-evolving career field. And multiple health care jobs are included on lists of the fastest growing careers of the next decade—from nurse practitioners and home health aides to medical and health service managers and more. With such an in-demand industry, students interested in these fields need to find the best of the best health and medicine programs the country has to offer. That’s why we’ve curated this list just for you! All the colleges and universities below offer amazing health science programs in the Southern US. The best part is you can request information from these schools immediately by clicking the green “Connect me” button below each school—then they’ll reach out to you. Happy searching!
Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
is a private, coeducational university with a 262-acre campus in Abilene, Texas. With a total enrollment of 5,292 students, the University offers a 14:1 student-faculty ratio and class sizes of fewer than 20 students. Included in its 79 undergraduate majors, ACU’s Body & Soul program prepares students for entry into health-related professional schools in medical, dental, pharmacy, physician assistant, optometry, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
Connect me with Abilene Christian!
Agnes Scott College
Agnes Scott College is a private Presbyterian liberal arts college for women in Decatur, Georgia—just six miles from downtown Atlanta. Agnes Scott’s more than 1,100 students benefit from having 30 undergraduate majors and minors—including Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, Nursing, Psychology, and more—as well as 60+ clubs and organizations to choose from. The College also offers the perks of their unique SUMMIT core curriculum which focuses on applying classroom learning to real-world experiences through hands-on opportunities.
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences is a private specialized health care professions college in Concord, North Carolina. The College offers majors in Biomedical Sciences, Community Health & Wellness, Health Sciences Leadership & Development, Medical Assisting, Medical Imaging, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Surgical Technology, and Science as well as minors in Biology and Leadership & Management. Cabarrus’ state-of-the-art campus allows students to learn in an immersive, professional health care environment that provides unmatched, real-life clinical experiences.
Catawba College
Catawba College is a church-affiliated liberal arts college in Salisbury, North Carolina—within 50 miles of Charlotte, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem. With 1,296 students and a 13:1 student-faculty ratio, health and medicine students can major in Exercise Science, Nursing, Recreation, Sport Management, or Therapeutic Recreation. Catawba also offers the C2CL Catawba to Career program, which helps students choose the right major and minor and explore career options for their future goals.
Christian Brothers University
Christian Brothers University is a private nonprofit Catholic university in the Lasallian tradition located four miles from downtown Memphis, Tennessee. With around 1,700 students and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, the University offers more than 70 majors and minors within four schools and one college, including programs for students interested in Pre-health, Nursing, Physician Assistant Studies, Biomedical Sciences, and more. CBU graduates enjoy impressive acceptance rates at medical, pharmacy, dental, nursing, physical therapy, and law schools.
Coker University
Coker University is a private liberal arts university in Hartsville, North Carolina—70 miles northeast of Columbia. Many of the University’s 1,1000 total students choose to study in health science programs such as Medical Technology, Nursing, Physical Education & Sports Studies, and Psychology. New Coker students also gain the benefits of the AccessCoker initiative, which gives you access to G Suite for Education, Blackboard discussion forums, campus social media channels, classroom apps, career resources, research platforms, and more.
Dallas Baptist University
Dallas Baptist University is a comprehensive Christian liberal arts institution in Dallas, Texas. DBU offers 4,300+ students more than 80 undergraduate majors and a student-faculty ratio of 13:1. The University offers BA and BS degrees in Biology, Cell Biology, Health Sciences, Kinesiology, and Macrobiology as well as pre-professional preparation in Athletic Training, Chiropractics, Dental, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, and Veterinary Science.
Elon University
Elon University is a selective independent university in Elon, North Carolina, with a campus that’s designated as a botanical garden. With 6,277 undergraduates and a 12:1 student-faculty ratio, students can major in Nursing, Physical Therapy, or Physician Assistant Studies, or take advantage of Elon’s accelerated pathways to a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies or a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Elon is the only school in the nation recognized in all eight U.S. News & World Report categories for “Focus on Student Success.”
Gardner-Webb University
Gardner-Webb University is a Baptist liberal arts and professional studies university in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. With 3,600 students and a 13:1 student-faculty ratio, health and medicine undergrads can major in Biology, Chemistry, Exercise Science, Healthcare Management, Nursing, Physician Assistant Studies, or one of six pre-professional pathways. Designated a College of Distinction, Gardner-Webb boasts a 97% first-time PANCE pass rate and a 100% BSN NCLEX pass rate, both as of 2019.
Lipscomb University
Lipscomb University is a private, nonprofit liberal arts university in a residential area of Nashville, Tennessee. With more than 4,600 students and a 13:1 student-faculty ratio, health and medicine students can major in Exercise Science, Nursing, Pre-med, and more or take advantage of Lipscomb’s 3+1 accelerated Pharmacy and direct-admit Nursing programs. Located in the health care capital of the US, Lipscomb boasts a 97% NCLEX pass rate, with 100% of Nursing graduates working in health care jobs.
Samford University
Samford University is a private university granting degrees through eight schools in Birmingham, Alabama. With more than 5,600 students and a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, health and medicine students can choose from one of five health professions majors, Nursing, Pre-pharmacy, or one of five Public Health majors through Samford University’s College of Health Sciences. Named the #1 “Most Recommended University in the Nation,” Samford takes an interdisciplinary approach to complex issues in its health care programs.
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public comprehensive university in Louisville, Kentucky. UofL enrolls more than 23,000 students and offers undergraduate degrees in more than 50 fields of study, including Bioengineering, Biology, Dental Hygiene, Neuroscience, Nursing, Psychology Public Health, and more. The city itself also serves as a classroom for UofL students, who benefit from easy access to STEM internships and partnerships, as well as a wide range of community service opportunities.
Want to explore even more colleges across the US? Check out our Health & Medicine School Profiles page!
