The Best Value Southern Colleges

Best Value Colleges in South for 2025

Explore the colleges that provide the best value for your money in the South based on academic quality, outcomes, net price and financial aid. The rankings are calculated using ratings from the 2025 CollegeSimply Best Colleges ranking factored against the typical net price paid by students - to identify the colleges that offer the best deals. Leading the list for 2025 as the overall best value college in the South is Rice University with a 10 out of 10 academic rating for a comparatively affordable $20,587 average net price. The highest value public state college is University of Virginia Main Campus. Learn how the Best Value Colleges are calculated and ranked on our methodology page.


356 results

Virginia State University
V
HBCU
Petersburg, VA

Virginia State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#343 Best Value in the South

  • 5,190enrollment
  • $16,184net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 800-1050SAT range
  • 14-20ACT range
  • 2.85Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Virginia Union University
V
HBCU
Richmond, VA

Virginia Union University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#344 Best Value in the South

  • 1,662enrollment
  • $20,207net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 750-1010SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.71Avg GPA

Virginia Wesleyan College
V
Norfolk, VA

Virginia Wesleyan College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#345 Best Value in the South

  • 1,711enrollment
  • $21,862net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1350SAT range
  • 28-29ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

Bluefield State College
B
HBCU
Bluefield, WV
 

Bluefield State College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#346 Best Value in the South

  • 1,270enrollment
  • $14,500net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 870-1080SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

University of Charleston
C
Charleston, WV

University of Charleston

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#347 Best Value in the South

  • 2,758enrollment
  • $21,100net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 985-1160SAT range
  • 19-23ACT range
  • 3.13Estimated Avg GPA

Concord University
C
Athens, WV

Concord University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#348 Best Value in the South

  • 1,798enrollment
  • $10,630net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 840-1080SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

Fairmont State University
F
Fairmont, WV

Fairmont State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#349 Best Value in the South

  • 3,307enrollment
  • $10,993net price
  • 99%acceptance rate
  • 830-1040SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.36Avg GPA

Marshall University
M
Huntington, WV

Marshall University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#350 Best Value in the South

  • 11,027enrollment
  • $9,734net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 890-1130SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 10

Shepherd University
S
Shepherdstown, WV

Shepherd University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#351 Best Value in the South

  • 3,318enrollment
  • $12,651net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 900-1140SAT range
  • 20-24ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

West Virginia State University
W
HBCU
Institute, WV

West Virginia State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#352 Best Value in the South

  • 3,458enrollment
  • $10,878net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 830-1073SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

West Liberty University
W
West Liberty, WV

West Liberty University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#353 Best Value in the South

  • 2,348enrollment
  • $14,203net price
  • 72%acceptance rate
  • 890-1125SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

West Virginia University Institute of Technology
W
Montgomery, WV

West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#354 Best Value in the South

  • 1,448enrollment
  • $11,015net price
  • 61%acceptance rate
  • 900-1120SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.51Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Florida Gulf Coast University
F
Fort Myers, FL

Florida Gulf Coast University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#355 Best Value in the South

  • 16,167enrollment
  • $10,548net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1210SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 1

Johnson & Wales University Charlotte
J
Charlotte, NC
 

Johnson & Wales University Charlotte

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#356 Best Value in the South

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