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

University of Louisiana at Lafayette
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L
Lafayette, LA

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#145 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 15,345enrollment
  • $13,443net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1255SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

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Piedmont College
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P
Demorest, GA

Piedmont College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#146 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 1,840enrollment
  • $21,599net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 990-1170SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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Georgia State University
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G
Atlanta, GA

Georgia State University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#147 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 34,974enrollment
  • $16,390net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1280SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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Wingate University
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W
Wingate, NC

Wingate University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#148 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 3,322enrollment
  • $21,464net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 990-1270SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.33Avg GPA

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Converse College
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C
Spartanburg, SC

Converse College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#149 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 1,341enrollment
  • $19,438net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1238SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Tennessee Wesleyan College
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T
Athens, TN
 

Tennessee Wesleyan College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#150 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 1,074enrollment
  • $16,414net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 960-1100SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Winthrop University
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W
Rock Hill, SC

Winthrop University

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#151 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 4,694enrollment
  • $16,838net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1220SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

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The University of West Florida
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Pensacola, FL

The University of West Florida

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#152 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 14,371enrollment
  • $8,908net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1230SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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Johnson & Wales University Charlotte
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J
Charlotte, NC
 

Johnson & Wales University Charlotte

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#153 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 1,128enrollment
  • $29,481net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 920-1140SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Western Carolina University
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W
Cullowhee, NC

Western Carolina University

Public 4 Year

10 reviews

#154 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 11,628enrollment
  • $12,252net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1260SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.44Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Thomas University
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T
Thomasville, GA

Thomas University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#155 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 1,583enrollment
  • $19,087net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 970-1110SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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University of South Alabama
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S
Mobile, AL

University of South Alabama

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#156 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 13,768enrollment
  • $13,613net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1015-1200SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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Saint Leo University
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S
Saint Leo, FL

Saint Leo University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#157 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 10,231enrollment
  • $19,478net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 980-1190SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

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Life University
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Marietta, GA

Life University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#158 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 2,711enrollment
  • $30,403net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 900-1120SAT range
  • 15-19ACT range
  • 3.11Avg GPA

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Anderson University
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A
Anderson, SC

Anderson University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#159 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 4,325enrollment
  • $22,222net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1290SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

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The University of Virginia's College at Wise
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V
Wise, VA

The University of Virginia's College at Wise

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#160 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 1,911enrollment
  • $10,409net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 935-1175SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Coastal Carolina University
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C
Conway, SC

Coastal Carolina University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#161 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 10,829enrollment
  • $14,453net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1210SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.72Avg GPA

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Savannah College of Art and Design
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S
Savannah, GA

Savannah College of Art and Design

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#162 Best Colleges in the Southeast

  • 17,575enrollment
  • $46,524net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1280SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

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