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

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott
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E
Prescott, AZ

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#55 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,162enrollment
  • $38,909net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1380SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

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Lipscomb University
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L
Nashville, TN

Lipscomb University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#56 Best Colleges in the South

  • 4,704enrollment
  • $27,937net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1320SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

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University of Mary Washington
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Fredericksburg, VA

University of Mary Washington

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#57 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,757enrollment
  • $21,863net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

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Queens University of Charlotte
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Q
Charlotte, NC

Queens University of Charlotte

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#58 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,873enrollment
  • $29,459net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1255SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.41Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 7

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University of North Carolina School of the Arts
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Winston-Salem, NC

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#59 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,104enrollment
  • $11,251net price
  • 32%acceptance rate
  • 1115-1350SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

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University of Arizona
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A
Tucson, AZ

University of Arizona

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#60 Best Colleges in the South

  • 49,403enrollment
  • $17,075net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1370SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.48Avg GPA

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The University of Texas at Dallas
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T
Richardson, TX

The University of Texas at Dallas

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#61 Best Colleges in the South

  • 31,570enrollment
  • $13,555net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1430SAT range
  • 24-32ACT range
  • 3.78Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Citadel Military College of South Carolina
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C
Charleston, SC

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#62 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,721enrollment
  • $21,846net price
  • 99%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1270SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

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University of Maryland Baltimore County
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Baltimore, MD

University of Maryland Baltimore County

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#63 Best Colleges in the South

  • 13,991enrollment
  • $17,692net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1390SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Auburn University
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A
Auburn University, AL

Auburn University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

#64 Best Colleges in the South

  • 31,764enrollment
  • $25,271net price
  • 44%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1380SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach
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E
Daytona Beach, FL

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#65 Best Colleges in the South

  • 10,301enrollment
  • $38,983net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1340SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

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Belmont University
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B
Nashville, TN

Belmont University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#66 Best Colleges in the South

  • 8,910enrollment
  • $36,225net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1340SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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University of Mississippi
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University, MS

University of Mississippi

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#67 Best Colleges in the South

  • 22,300enrollment
  • $14,289net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1220SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

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Presbyterian College
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P
Clinton, SC

Presbyterian College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#68 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,199enrollment
  • $21,571net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1270SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 21

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Maryland Institute College of Art
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M
Baltimore, MD

Maryland Institute College of Art

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#69 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,952enrollment
  • $43,545net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 967-1362SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Eckerd College
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Saint Petersburg, FL

Eckerd College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#70 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,993enrollment
  • $40,119net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1300SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

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Hendrix College
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Conway, AR

Hendrix College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#71 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,144enrollment
  • $22,626net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1133-1328SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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Salisbury University
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S
Salisbury, MD

Salisbury University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#72 Best Colleges in the South

  • 7,123enrollment
  • $19,756net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1320SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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