Best Southeastern Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in the Southeast for 2025

There are 1038 colleges and universities in the Southeast enrolling 4,974,503 students. Explore the list of top colleges in the Southeast 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 Southeast offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.

The  Southeast is home to nationally ranked institutions like Duke University, Johns Hopkins University, Vanderbilt University and Emory University. The highest ranked college in the Southeast is Duke University and the top rated public state college is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Southeast Public Private For-Profit 4 year 2 year

1,038 results

List of the Best Southeast Colleges

George Mason University
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G
Fairfax, VA

George Mason University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#37 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 39,527enrollment
  • $18,900net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1340SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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James Madison University
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J
Harrisonburg, VA

James Madison University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#38 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 22,758enrollment
  • $26,317net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1320SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
  • 3.57Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Mary Washington
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M
Fredericksburg, VA

University of Mary Washington

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#39 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 3,808enrollment
  • $21,615net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

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University of Maryland Baltimore County
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M
Baltimore, MD

University of Maryland Baltimore County

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#40 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 14,148enrollment
  • $17,704net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Goucher College
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G
Baltimore, MD

Goucher College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#41 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 1,500enrollment
  • $28,749net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1366SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.23Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Lipscomb University
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L
Nashville, TN

Lipscomb University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#42 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 5,047enrollment
  • $27,386net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1145-1350SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

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John Brown University
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J
Siloam Springs, AR

John Brown University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#43 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 2,341enrollment
  • $21,464net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1345SAT range
  • 21-30ACT range
  • 3.77Avg 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

#44 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 1,846enrollment
  • $27,178net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1300SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.41Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 7

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Louisiana State University
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L
Baton Rouge, LA

Louisiana State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#45 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 39,418enrollment
  • $21,808net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1330SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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Florida Southern College
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F
Lakeland, FL

Florida Southern College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#46 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 3,194enrollment
  • $30,462net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1310SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Auburn University
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A
Auburn University, AL

Auburn University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

#47 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 33,015enrollment
  • $24,524net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1240-1380SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#48 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 1,074enrollment
  • $11,163net price
  • 33%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1350SAT range
  • 24-27ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

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Belmont University
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B
Nashville, TN

Belmont University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#49 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 8,862enrollment
  • $37,558net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1350SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 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

#50 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 11,070enrollment
  • $41,550net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1350SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.88Avg GPA

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Spelman College
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S
HBCU
Atlanta, GA

Spelman College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#51 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 3,633enrollment
  • $37,403net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1060-1270SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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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

#52 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 1,861enrollment
  • $43,066net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 915-1220SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 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

#53 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 3,727enrollment
  • $21,041net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1250SAT range
  • 22-26ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

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Hendrix College
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H
Conway, AR

Hendrix College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#54 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 1,107enrollment
  • $24,236net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1185-1385SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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