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.


1,038 results

List of the Best Southeast Colleges

Jacksonville University
J
Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#73 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 3,957enrollment
  • $25,745net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1260SAT range
  • 24-28ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Christopher Newport University
C
Newport News, VA

Christopher Newport University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#74 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 4,503enrollment
  • $22,864net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1300SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.79Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of North Carolina at Asheville
N
Asheville, NC

University of North Carolina at Asheville

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#75 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 2,925enrollment
  • $14,175net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1350SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.49Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

University of Kentucky
K
Lexington, KY

University of Kentucky

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#76 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 32,703enrollment
  • $19,838net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1290SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

Bellarmine University
B
Louisville, KY

Bellarmine University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#77 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 2,993enrollment
  • $24,432net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 1075-1243SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Randolph Macon College
R
Ashland, VA

Randolph Macon College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#78 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 1,523enrollment
  • $29,058net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1210SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

University of Alabama at Birmingham
A
Birmingham, AL

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#79 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 21,160enrollment
  • $17,413net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1400SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

Asbury University
A
Wilmore, KY

Asbury University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#80 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 1,942enrollment
  • $21,375net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1320SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

College of Charleston
C
Charleston, SC

College of Charleston

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#81 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 11,729enrollment
  • $20,806net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1300SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.94Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Nova Southeastern University
N
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Nova Southeastern University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#82 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 20,877enrollment
  • $32,756net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1310SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA

Lincoln Memorial University
L
Harrogate, TN

Lincoln Memorial University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#83 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 5,805enrollment
  • $19,401net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1006-1220SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.29Avg GPA

University of Arkansas
A
Fayetteville, AR

University of Arkansas

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#84 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 32,140enrollment
  • $17,475net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1220SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Radford University
R
Radford, VA

Radford University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#85 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 7,531enrollment
  • $18,282net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 950-1170SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

Mississippi State University
M
Mississippi State, MS

Mississippi State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#86 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 22,657enrollment
  • $16,480net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1410SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Ouachita Baptist University
O
Arkadelphia, AR

Ouachita Baptist University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#87 Best Colleges in the Southeast

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

Virginia Commonwealth University
V
Richmond, VA

Virginia Commonwealth University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#88 Best Colleges in the Southeast

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

Applications Due Jan 18

Xavier University of Louisiana
X
HBCU
New Orleans, LA

Xavier University of Louisiana

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#89 Best Colleges in the Southeast

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

Applications Due Jul 1

William Carey University
W
Hattiesburg, MS

William Carey University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#90 Best Colleges in the Southeast

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