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

Union University
Connect Me
U
Jackson, TN

Union University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#37 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,674enrollment
  • $27,191net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1340SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Virginia Military Institute
Connect Me
V
Lexington, VA

Virginia Military Institute

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#38 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,560enrollment
  • $17,229net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1260SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Loyola University Maryland
Connect Me
L
Baltimore, MD

Loyola University Maryland

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#39 Best Colleges in the South

  • 5,107enrollment
  • $31,857net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1350SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Southwestern University
Connect Me
S
Georgetown, TX

Southwestern University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#40 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,457enrollment
  • $30,687net price
  • 39%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Dallas
Connect Me
D
Irving, TX

University of Dallas

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#41 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,182enrollment
  • $31,221net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1370SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Florida State University
Connect Me
F
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#42 Best Colleges in the South

  • 43,234enrollment
  • $14,903net price
  • 25%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1390SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.7Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of South Carolina Columbia
Connect Me
S
Columbia, SC

University of South Carolina Columbia

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#43 Best Colleges in the South

  • 36,579enrollment
  • $26,068net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1380SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.69Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Rollins College
Connect Me
R
Winter Park, FL

Rollins College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#44 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,013enrollment
  • $37,134net price
  • 41%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1360SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Samford University
Connect Me
S
Birmingham, AL

Samford University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#45 Best Colleges in the South

  • 5,791enrollment
  • $32,176net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1260SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Connect Me
N
Socorro, NM

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#46 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,713enrollment
  • $9,133net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1290SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.63Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Mercer University
Connect Me
M
Macon, GA

Mercer University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#47 Best Colleges in the South

  • 9,124enrollment
  • $24,197net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1350SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.98Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
The University of Tennessee
Connect Me
T
Knoxville, TN

The University of Tennessee

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#48 Best Colleges in the South

  • 36,304enrollment
  • $20,885net price
  • 46%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1340SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.66Estimated Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
Connect Me
O
Norman, OK

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#49 Best Colleges in the South

  • 29,145enrollment
  • $19,900net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Oklahoma City University
Connect Me
O
Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#50 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,763enrollment
  • $23,143net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1233SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
George Mason University
Connect Me
G
Fairfax, VA

George Mason University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#51 Best Colleges in the South

  • 39,527enrollment
  • $18,900net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1340SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
The University of Texas at Dallas
Connect Me
T
Richardson, TX

The University of Texas at Dallas

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#52 Best Colleges in the South

  • 30,885enrollment
  • $13,464net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1410SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.78Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
James Madison University
Connect Me
J
Harrisonburg, VA

James Madison University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#53 Best Colleges in the South

  • 22,758enrollment
  • $26,317net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1320SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
  • 3.57Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Mary Washington
Connect Me
M
Fredericksburg, VA

University of Mary Washington

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#54 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,808enrollment
  • $21,615net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances