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

Gardner Webb University
Connect Me
G
Boiling Springs, NC

Gardner Webb University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#145 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,125enrollment
  • $24,035net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1260SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Louisiana Tech University
Connect Me
L
Ruston, LA

Louisiana Tech University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#146 Best Colleges in the South

  • 11,427enrollment
  • $12,593net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1045-1290SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Oglethorpe University
Connect Me
O
Atlanta, GA

Oglethorpe University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#147 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,522enrollment
  • $22,251net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1106-1320SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Lynchburg
Connect Me
L
Lynchburg, VA

University of Lynchburg

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#148 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,592enrollment
  • $22,921net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 980-1230SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Florida International University
Connect Me
F
Miami, FL

Florida International University

Public 4 Year

7 reviews

#149 Best Colleges in the South

  • 53,953enrollment
  • $10,742net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1250SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Averett University
Connect Me
A
Danville, VA

Averett University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#150 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,378enrollment
  • $24,091net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 960-1191SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.07Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
St. Mary's University
Connect Me
S
San Antonio, TX

St. Mary's University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#151 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,411enrollment
  • $20,562net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 980-1150SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Longwood University
Connect Me
L
Farmville, VA

Longwood University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#152 Best Colleges in the South

  • 4,545enrollment
  • $22,900net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1190SAT range
  • 22-25ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
King College
Connect Me
K
Bristol, TN
 

King College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#153 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,295enrollment
  • $23,282net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1160SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Lynn University
Connect Me
L
Boca Raton, FL

Lynn University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#154 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,501enrollment
  • $39,582net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1200SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Trevecca Nazarene University
Connect Me
T
Nashville, TN

Trevecca Nazarene University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#155 Best Colleges in the South

  • 3,196enrollment
  • $16,222net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 973-1193SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.43Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Guilford College
Connect Me
G
Greensboro, NC

Guilford College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#156 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,208enrollment
  • $22,620net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.14Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Montevallo
Connect Me
M
Montevallo, AL

University of Montevallo

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#157 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,942enrollment
  • $17,280net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 970-1200SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Maryville College
Connect Me
M
Maryville, TN

Maryville College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#158 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,147enrollment
  • $20,990net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1018-1188SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Catawba College
Connect Me
C
Salisbury, NC

Catawba College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#159 Best Colleges in the South

  • 1,241enrollment
  • $18,319net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1186SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of Louisiana Monroe
Connect Me
L
Monroe, LA

University of Louisiana Monroe

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#160 Best Colleges in the South

  • 8,272enrollment
  • $11,160net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1350SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Middle Tennessee State University
Connect Me
M
Murfreesboro, TN

Middle Tennessee State University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#161 Best Colleges in the South

  • 20,183enrollment
  • $12,700net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1230SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
North Greenville University
Connect Me
N
Tigerville, SC

North Greenville University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#162 Best Colleges in the South

  • 2,219enrollment
  • $20,264net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 22

Compare Calculate my chances