Best Southern Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in the South for 2025

There are 1316 colleges and universities in the South enrolling 7,337,398 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

1,316 results

List of the Best South Colleges

Virginia Union University
Connect Me
V
HBCU
Richmond, VA

Virginia Union University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#343 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,662enrollment
  • $20,207net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 750-1010SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.71Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Harding University
Connect Me
H
Searcy, AR

Harding University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#344 Best Colleges in the South

  • 4,608enrollment
  • $21,069net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1280SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Bethune Cookman University
Connect Me
B
HBCU
Daytona Beach, FL

Bethune Cookman University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#345 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,515enrollment
  • $14,705net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 830-1000SAT range
  • 15-18ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences
Connect Me
F
Orlando, FL

Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#346 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,692enrollment
  • $30,340net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1140SAT range
  • 21-24ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Albany State University
Connect Me
A
HBCU
Albany, GA

Albany State University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#347 Best Colleges in the South

  • 6,544enrollment
  • $13,775net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 740-900SAT range
  • 15-18ACT range
  • 2.77Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Savannah State University
Connect Me
S
HBCU
Savannah, GA

Savannah State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#348 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,078enrollment
  • $8,506net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 845-980SAT range
  • 15-19ACT range
  • 2.77Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Delta State University
Connect Me
D
Cleveland, MS

Delta State University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#349 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,716enrollment
  • $13,457net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 940-1190SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.37Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Mississippi University for Women
Connect Me
M
Columbus, MS

Mississippi University for Women

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#350 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,227enrollment
  • $12,617net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 850-1180SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.49Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Connect Me
S
Weatherford, OK

Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#351 Best Colleges in the South

  • 4,811enrollment
  • $14,761net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Southern Wesleyan University
Connect Me
S
Central, SC
 

Southern Wesleyan University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#352 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,188enrollment
  • $20,336net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 980-1200SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Our Lady of the Lake University San Antonio
Connect Me
O
San Antonio, TX

Our Lady of the Lake University San Antonio

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#353 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,096enrollment
  • $17,961net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 890-1070SAT range
  • 15-23ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
The University of Texas at El Paso
Connect Me
T
El Paso, TX

The University of Texas at El Paso

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#354 Best Colleges in the South

  • 24,351enrollment
  • $10,333net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 870-1090SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Eastern Mennonite University
Connect Me
E
Harrisonburg, VA

Eastern Mennonite University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#355 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,292enrollment
  • $24,710net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1590SAT range
  • 25-34ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Mary Baldwin College
Connect Me
M
Staunton, VA

Mary Baldwin College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#356 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,792enrollment
  • $18,838net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • 940-1120SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Amridge University
Connect Me
A
Montgomery, AL
 

Amridge University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

 

  • 636enrollment
  • -net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Central Alabama Community College
C
Alexander City, AL

Central Alabama Community College

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

 

  • 1,910enrollment
  • $13,873net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Athens State University
Connect Me
A
Athens, AL
 

Athens State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

 

  • 2,955enrollment
  • -net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Birmingham Southern College
Connect Me
B
Birmingham, AL

Birmingham Southern College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

 

  • 731enrollment
  • $24,170net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1340SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances