Best Southern Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in the South for 2024

There are 1359 colleges and universities in the South enrolling 7,462,248 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 Virginia Main Campus.

South Public Private For-Profit 4 year 2 year

1,359 results

List of the Best South Colleges

Southwestern University
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S
Georgetown, TX

Southwestern University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#37 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,483enrollment
  • $31,014net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1355SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Austin College
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A
Sherman, TX

Austin College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#38 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,182enrollment
  • $24,739net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1370SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 31

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University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
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O
Norman, OK

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#39 Best Colleges in the South

  • 28,308enrollment
  • $22,601net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1330SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Oklahoma City University
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O
Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#40 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,550enrollment
  • $25,235net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1233SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

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Florida State University
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F
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#41 Best Colleges in the South

  • 44,161enrollment
  • $14,003net price
  • 25%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1370SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.7Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Loyola University Maryland
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L
Baltimore, MD

Loyola University Maryland

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#42 Best Colleges in the South

  • 5,238enrollment
  • $33,312net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1360SAT range
  • 26-33ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Rollins College
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R
Winter Park, FL

Rollins College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#43 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,029enrollment
  • $35,317net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1350SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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University of South Carolina Columbia
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S
Columbia, SC

University of South Carolina Columbia

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#44 Best Colleges in the South

  • 35,653enrollment
  • $22,427net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1380SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.69Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

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Samford University
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S
Birmingham, AL

Samford University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#45 Best Colleges in the South

  • 5,682enrollment
  • $31,803net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1270SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Eastern Mennonite University
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E
Harrisonburg, VA

Eastern Mennonite University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#46 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,334enrollment
  • $23,783net price
  • 99%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1590SAT range
  • 25-34ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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George Mason University
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G
Fairfax, VA

George Mason University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#47 Best Colleges in the South

  • 39,049enrollment
  • $18,479net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1350SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
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N
Socorro, NM

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#48 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,689enrollment
  • $10,429net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1320SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.63Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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The University of Tennessee
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T
Knoxville, TN

The University of Tennessee

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#49 Best Colleges in the South

  • 33,805enrollment
  • $21,880net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1330SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.66Estimated Avg GPA

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Mercer University
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M
Macon, GA

Mercer University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#50 Best Colleges in the South

  • 8,889enrollment
  • $22,087net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1360SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.98Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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University of Dallas
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D
Irving, TX

University of Dallas

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#51 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,328enrollment
  • $27,250net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1400SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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John Brown University
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J
Siloam Springs, AR

John Brown University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#52 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,326enrollment
  • $20,997net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1390SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

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Goucher College
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G
Baltimore, MD

Goucher College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#53 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,727enrollment
  • $30,945net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1113-1328SAT range
  • 26-33ACT range
  • 3.23Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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James Madison University
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J
Harrisonburg, VA

James Madison University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#54 Best Colleges in the South

  • 22,224enrollment
  • $18,274net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1320SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.57Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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