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

Wayland Baptist University
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W
Plainview, TX

Wayland Baptist University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#127 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,861enrollment
  • $20,222net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 900-1090SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.14Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
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E
Daytona Beach, FL

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#128 Best Colleges in the South

  • 12,268enrollment
  • $20,183net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1260SAT range
  • 24-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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N
Charlotte, NC

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#129 Best Colleges in the South

  • 30,298enrollment
  • $13,768net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1320SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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Old Dominion University
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O
Norfolk, VA

Old Dominion University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#130 Best Colleges in the South

  • 22,541enrollment
  • $16,150net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1290SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Ave Maria University
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A
Ave Maria, FL

Ave Maria University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#131 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,335enrollment
  • $23,515net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1018-1240SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

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Texas Lutheran University
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T
Seguin, TX

Texas Lutheran University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#132 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,361enrollment
  • $23,600net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1230SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

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Tuskegee University
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T
HBCU
Tuskegee, AL

Tuskegee University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#133 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,846enrollment
  • $35,126net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 995-1255SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

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Oklahoma Baptist University
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O
Shawnee, OK

Oklahoma Baptist University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#134 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,526enrollment
  • $25,099net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1190SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

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Emory and Henry College
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E
Emory, VA

Emory and Henry College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#135 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,364enrollment
  • $21,714net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1240SAT range
  • 21-30ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Tennessee Technological University
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T
Cookeville, TN

Tennessee Technological University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#136 Best Colleges in the South

  • 10,117enrollment
  • $15,138net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1250SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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East Carolina University
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E
Greenville, NC

East Carolina University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#137 Best Colleges in the South

  • 26,785enrollment
  • $14,470net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1200SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.33Avg GPA

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Christian Brothers University
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C
Memphis, TN
 

Christian Brothers University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#138 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,043enrollment
  • $17,068net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1300SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

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Southern Adventist University
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S
Collegedale, TN
 

Southern Adventist University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#139 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,154enrollment
  • $25,374net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 970-1270SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

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Appalachian State University
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A
Boone, NC

Appalachian State University

Public 4 Year

10 reviews

#140 Best Colleges in the South

  • 21,253enrollment
  • $14,712net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1280SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.96Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Our Lady of the Lake College
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O
Baton Rouge, LA
 

Our Lady of the Lake College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#141 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,204enrollment
  • $15,239net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 20-24ACT range
  • 3.23Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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University of North Florida
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N
Jacksonville, FL

University of North Florida

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#142 Best Colleges in the South

  • 16,453enrollment
  • $10,628net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 990-1210SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

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Fisk University
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F
HBCU
Nashville, TN

Fisk University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#143 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,005enrollment
  • $19,836net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1480SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Bridgewater College
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B
Bridgewater, VA

Bridgewater College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#144 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,436enrollment
  • $19,660net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1375SAT range
  • 28-29ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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