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

Point University
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P
East Point, GA
 

Point University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

24% Acceptance Rate

#15 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 2,015enrollment
  • $19,890net price
  • 850-1100SAT range
  • 13-23ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

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Piedmont International University
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P
Winston Salem, NC
 

Piedmont International University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

24% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 691enrollment
  • $15,119net price
  • 770-1230SAT range
  • 15-23ACT range
  • 3.07Estimated Avg GPA

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University of Richmond
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R
University of Richmond, VA

University of Richmond

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

24% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Colleges in Virginia

  • 3,876enrollment
  • $29,248net price
  • 1398-1530SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Florida State University
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F
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

25% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in Florida

  • 44,161enrollment
  • $14,003net price
  • 1210-1370SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.7Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Berea College
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B
Berea, KY

Berea College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

25% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,433enrollment
  • $2,020net price
  • 1136-1298SAT range
  • 23-27ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 31

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Johnson C Smith University
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J
HBCU
Charlotte, NC

Johnson C Smith University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

25% Acceptance Rate

#18 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,093enrollment
  • $20,045net price
  • 800-980SAT range
  • 13-18ACT range
  • 2.48Avg GPA

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The University of Tampa
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T
Tampa, FL

The University of Tampa

Private 4 Year

13 reviews

26% Acceptance Rate

#12 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 10,566enrollment
  • $34,653net price
  • 1070-1240SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

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Spelman College
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S
HBCU
Atlanta, GA

Spelman College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

28% Acceptance Rate

#5 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 3,102enrollment
  • $37,085net price
  • 1050-1200SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus
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E
Portales, NM

Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

28% Acceptance Rate

#4 Best Public Universities in New Mexico

  • 5,106enrollment
  • $8,702net price
  • 840-1100SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.23Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 24

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Ottawa University Surprise
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O
Surprise, Arizona
 

Ottawa University Surprise

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

29% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,736enrollment
  • $35,402net price
  • 980-1230SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Tuskegee University
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T
HBCU
Tuskegee, AL

Tuskegee University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

30% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Private Colleges in Alabama

  • 2,570enrollment
  • $35,596net price
  • 970-1215SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

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Alcorn State University
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A
HBCU
Alcorn State, MS

Alcorn State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

30% Acceptance Rate

#8 Best Public Universities in Mississippi

  • 2,933enrollment
  • $14,864net price
  • 903-1115SAT range
  • 15-24ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

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O'More College of Design
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O
Franklin, TN

O'More College of Design

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

31% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 157enrollment
  • $26,987net price
  • -SAT range
  • 18-22ACT range
  • 3.78Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 31

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The University of Texas at Austin
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T
Austin, TX

The University of Texas at Austin

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

31% Acceptance Rate

#14 Best Public Universities in America

  • 52,384enrollment
  • $17,434net price
  • 1230-1500SAT range
  • 26-33ACT range
  • 3.8Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 1

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Trinity University
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T
San Antonio, TX

Trinity University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

31% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in Texas

  • 2,692enrollment
  • $30,038net price
  • 1310-1470SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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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

32% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 1,104enrollment
  • $11,251net price
  • 1115-1350SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

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Regent University
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R
Virginia Beach, VA

Regent University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

32% Acceptance Rate

#15 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 10,337enrollment
  • $17,341net price
  • 1030-1250SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.34Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
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F
HBCU
Tallahassee, FL

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

#10 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 9,215enrollment
  • $11,583net price
  • 1010-1150SAT range
  • 19-23ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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