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

Mount St Mary's University
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M
Emmitsburg, MD

Mount St Mary's University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#73 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,499enrollment
  • $25,298net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1280SAT range
  • 19-23ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Meredith College
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M
Raleigh, NC

Meredith College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#74 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,576enrollment
  • $23,405net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1260SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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University of Mississippi
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M
University, MS

University of Mississippi

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#75 Best Colleges in the South

  • 24,043enrollment
  • $14,946net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1210SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

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Agnes Scott College
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A
Decatur, GA

Agnes Scott College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#76 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,077enrollment
  • $25,609net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1350SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Salisbury University
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S
Salisbury, MD

Salisbury University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#77 Best Colleges in the South

  • 7,030enrollment
  • $17,931net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1310SAT range
  • 26-28ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Roanoke College
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R
Salem, VA

Roanoke College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#78 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,835enrollment
  • $27,695net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1270SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

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Presbyterian College
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P
Clinton, SC

Presbyterian College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#79 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,136enrollment
  • $20,058net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1280SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 21

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Towson University
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T
Towson, MD

Towson University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#80 Best Colleges in the South

  • 19,527enrollment
  • $15,064net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1270SAT range
  • 19-28ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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Eckerd College
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E
Saint Petersburg, FL

Eckerd College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#81 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,986enrollment
  • $40,122net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1336SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

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Berry College
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B
Mount Berry, GA

Berry College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#82 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,370enrollment
  • $25,383net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1278SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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Florida Institute of Technology
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F
Melbourne, FL

Florida Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#83 Best Colleges in the South

  • 8,516enrollment
  • $36,364net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1320SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

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Arizona State University
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A
Tempe, AZ

Arizona State University

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#84 Best Colleges in the South

  • 79,593enrollment
  • $16,401net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1320SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

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University of Central Florida
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C
Orlando, FL

University of Central Florida

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#85 Best Colleges in the South

  • 69,233enrollment
  • $13,110net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1190-1350SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
  • 3.64Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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University of North Carolina at Wilmington
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N
Wilmington, NC

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

#86 Best Colleges in the South

  • 17,987enrollment
  • $18,606net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1360SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.56Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Oklahoma State University Main Campus
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O
Stillwater, OK

Oklahoma State University Main Campus

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#87 Best Colleges in the South

  • 26,043enrollment
  • $18,291net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1240SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

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The University of Alabama
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A
Tuscaloosa, AL

The University of Alabama

Public 4 Year

7 reviews

#88 Best Colleges in the South

  • 39,622enrollment
  • $21,761net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1400SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.76Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Stetson University
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S
DeLand, FL

Stetson University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#89 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,669enrollment
  • $22,914net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1290SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

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Transylvania University
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T
Lexington, KY

Transylvania University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#90 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,022enrollment
  • $25,634net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1290SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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