South Colleges with low acceptance rates

Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate in South for 2024

These are the most selective public and private four-year colleges in South. The list is ranked by acceptance rate, lowest to highest and limited to schools which reject at least half of all applicants. Leading the list is Fairfax University of America which sent acceptance letters to only 1% of the 378 students who applied and rejected 99%.

Not all schools on the most selective list are overly academically challenging. Some schools with less rigorous test and high school GPA requirements may receive a large numbers of qualified applicants and the school does not have space to admit them all.

If you're looking for challenging colleges, explore rankings of South colleges with the highest SAT scores, highest ACT scores and highest GPA's.
South Low Acceptance % Public Private 4 year

83 results

Fairfax University of America
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F
Fairfax, Virginia
 

Fairfax University of America

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

1% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 43enrollment
  • -net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Duke University
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D
Durham, NC

Duke University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

6% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in America

  • 18,023enrollment
  • $23,694net price
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.94Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Johns Hopkins University
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J
Baltimore, MD

Johns Hopkins University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

7% Acceptance Rate

#10 Best Colleges in America

  • 31,275enrollment
  • $24,034net price
  • 1520-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Vanderbilt University
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V
Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

7% Acceptance Rate

#14 Best Colleges in America

  • 13,710enrollment
  • $25,606net price
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.89Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Rice University
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R
Houston, TX

Rice University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

9% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Colleges in America

  • 8,672enrollment
  • $19,902net price
  • 1490-1570SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.96Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Emory University
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E
Atlanta, GA

Emory University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

11% Acceptance Rate

#24 Best Colleges in America

  • 14,841enrollment
  • $26,680net price
  • 1430-1550SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Tulane University
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T
New Orleans, LA

Tulane University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

11% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 14,027enrollment
  • $50,263net price
  • 1370-1510SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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United States Naval Academy
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N
Annapolis, Maryland

United States Naval Academy

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

11% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 4,450enrollment
  • -net price
  • 1200-1440SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.8Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 31

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Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus
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G
Atlanta, GA

Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

17% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Public Universities in Georgia

  • 45,296enrollment
  • $17,402net price
  • 1370-1550SAT range
  • 31-35ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 4

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Davidson College
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D
Davidson, NC

Davidson College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

17% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,927enrollment
  • $26,704net price
  • 1350-1500SAT range
  • 31-33ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 7

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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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N
Chapel Hill, NC

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

17% Acceptance Rate

#16 Best Value Colleges in America

  • 31,705enrollment
  • $10,614net price
  • 1350-1530SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.83Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Washington and Lee University
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W
Lexington, VA

Washington and Lee University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

17% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Value in Virginia

  • 2,243enrollment
  • $24,733net price
  • 1410-1533SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.87Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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University of Miami
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M
Coral Gables, FL

University of Miami

Private 4 Year

14 reviews

19% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 19,402enrollment
  • $36,467net price
  • 1310-1480SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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University of Virginia Main Campus
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V
Charlottesville, VA

University of Virginia Main Campus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

19% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Public Universities in America

  • 26,082enrollment
  • $19,469net price
  • 1400-1540SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

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Visible Music College
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V
Memphis, TN
 

Visible Music College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

20% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 230enrollment
  • $23,636net price
  • 605-1250SAT range
  • 17-21ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Wake Forest University
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W
Winston Salem, NC

Wake Forest University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

21% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 8,963enrollment
  • $26,197net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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City College Gainesville
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C
Gainesville, FL
 

City College Gainesville

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

22% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 45enrollment
  • $16,530net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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University of Florida
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F
Gainesville, FL

University of Florida

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

23% Acceptance Rate

#7 Best Public Universities in America

  • 55,211enrollment
  • $11,740net price
  • 1300-1490SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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