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

Ouachita Baptist University
Connect Me
O
Arkadelphia, AR

Ouachita Baptist University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#109 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,815enrollment
  • $22,087net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1290SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of St Thomas
Connect Me
S
Houston, TX

University of St Thomas

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#110 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,813enrollment
  • $20,469net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1075-1340SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Houston
Connect Me
H
Houston, TX

University of Houston

Public 4 Year

7 reviews

#111 Best Colleges in the South

  • 46,676enrollment
  • $13,738net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Applications Due May 31

Compare Calculate my chances 
Virginia Commonwealth University
Connect Me
V
Richmond, VA

Virginia Commonwealth University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#112 Best Colleges in the South

  • 28,238enrollment
  • $22,852net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1270SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 18

Compare Calculate my chances 
Xavier University of Louisiana
Connect Me
X
HBCU
New Orleans, LA

Xavier University of Louisiana

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#113 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,181enrollment
  • $17,874net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 953-1138SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Saint Edward's University
Connect Me
S
Austin, TX

Saint Edward's University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#114 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,309enrollment
  • $28,351net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1235SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.53Estimated Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
William Carey University
Connect Me
W
Hattiesburg, MS

William Carey University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#115 Best Colleges in the South

  • 5,448enrollment
  • $17,192net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 880-1200SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.46Estimated Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
The University of Tampa
Connect Me
T
Tampa, FL

The University of Tampa

Private 4 Year

13 reviews

#116 Best Colleges in the South

  • 11,054enrollment
  • $35,975net price
  • 41%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1240SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Alabama at Huntsville
Connect Me
A
Huntsville, AL

University of Alabama at Huntsville

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#117 Best Colleges in the South

  • 8,743enrollment
  • $19,847net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1195-1440SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Campbell University
Connect Me
C
Buies Creek, NC

Campbell University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#118 Best Colleges in the South

  • 5,115enrollment
  • $24,517net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1230SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.52Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Marymount University
Connect Me
M
Arlington, VA

Marymount University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#119 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,667enrollment
  • $28,147net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 970-1170SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.38Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach
Connect Me
P
West Palm Beach, FL

Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#120 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,875enrollment
  • $31,103net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 970-1210SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.36Estimated Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Hampton University
Connect Me
H
HBCU
Hampton, VA

Hampton University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#121 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,649enrollment
  • $28,576net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 857-1226SAT range
  • 12-24ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Shenandoah University
Connect Me
S
Winchester, VA

Shenandoah University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#122 Best Colleges in the South

  • 4,343enrollment
  • $26,400net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1230SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Mississippi College
Connect Me
M
Clinton, MS

Mississippi College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#123 Best Colleges in the South

  • 4,087enrollment
  • $21,135net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1260SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.56Estimated Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Dallas Baptist University
Connect Me
D
Dallas, TX

Dallas Baptist University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#124 Best Colleges in the South

  • 4,201enrollment
  • $30,275net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 960-1217SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
West Virginia University
Connect Me
W
Morgantown, WV

West Virginia University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#125 Best Colleges in the South

  • 24,200enrollment
  • $13,691net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1240SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

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

The University of Texas at Tyler

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#126 Best Colleges in the South

  • 9,678enrollment
  • $14,043net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1220SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 24

Compare Calculate my chances