Best Southern Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in the South for 2025

There are 1354 colleges and universities in the South enrolling 7,622,681 students. Explore the list of top colleges in the South below to begin your college search. The CollegeSimply rankings are objective and data-driven in order to help you find good matches for you. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page. Whether you're searching for a good public, private or community college, this guide to universities in South offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.

The  South is home to nationally ranked institutions like Duke University, Rice University, Johns Hopkins University and Vanderbilt University. The highest ranked college in the South is Duke University and the top rated public state college is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

South Public Private For-Profit 4 year 2 year

1,354 results

List of the Best South Colleges

Furman University
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F
Greenville, SC

Furman University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,505enrollment
  • $32,901net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1425SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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The University of Texas at Austin
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T
Austin, TX

The University of Texas at Austin

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#20 Best Colleges in the South

  • 53,082enrollment
  • $18,036net price
  • 29%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1490SAT range
  • 27-33ACT range
  • 3.8Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

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University of Tulsa
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T
Tulsa, OK

University of Tulsa

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#21 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,559enrollment
  • $23,681net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1490SAT range
  • 24-33ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

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Texas Christian University
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T
Fort Worth, TX

Texas Christian University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#22 Best Colleges in the South

  • 12,785enrollment
  • $39,005net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1375SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.68Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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North Carolina State University at Raleigh
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N
Raleigh, NC

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#23 Best Colleges in the South

  • 37,323enrollment
  • $14,860net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Texas A&M University College Station
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T
College Station, TX

Texas A&M University College Station

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#24 Best Colleges in the South

  • 76,633enrollment
  • $21,610net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1380SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.68Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

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Clemson University
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C
Clemson, SC

Clemson University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

#25 Best Colleges in the South

  • 28,747enrollment
  • $24,408net price
  • 38%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1390SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Elon University
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E
Elon, NC

Elon University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#26 Best Colleges in the South

  • 7,207enrollment
  • $41,849net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1143-1305SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.65Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

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Rhodes College
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R
Memphis, TN

Rhodes College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#27 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,952enrollment
  • $30,590net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1290-1490SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus
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G
Atlanta, GA

Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#28 Best Colleges in the South

  • 47,946enrollment
  • $15,901net price
  • 16%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1530SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

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University of Delaware
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D
Newark, DE

University of Delaware

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#29 Best Colleges in the South

  • 24,221enrollment
  • $17,716net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1360SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.94Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Virginia Tech
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V
Blacksburg, VA

Virginia Tech

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#30 Best Colleges in the South

  • 38,294enrollment
  • $22,205net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1420SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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St Mary's College of Maryland
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S
St. Mary's City, MD

St Mary's College of Maryland

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#31 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,587enrollment
  • $20,679net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1330SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Centre College
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C
Danville, KY

Centre College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#32 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,356enrollment
  • $23,780net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1423SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Wofford College
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W
Spartanburg, SC

Wofford College

Private 4 Year

8 reviews

#33 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,873enrollment
  • $31,061net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1350SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Austin College
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A
Sherman, TX

Austin College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#34 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,136enrollment
  • $24,777net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 31

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University of Georgia
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G
Athens, GA

University of Georgia

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#35 Best Colleges in the South

  • 41,615enrollment
  • $16,303net price
  • 37%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1390SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Baylor University
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B
Waco, TX

Baylor University

Private 4 Year

14 reviews

#36 Best Colleges in the South

  • 20,824enrollment
  • $49,727net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1400SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.74Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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