South Colleges with low acceptance rates

Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate in South for 2025

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 Vanderbilt University which sent acceptance letters to only 6% of the 45,313 students who applied and rejected 94%.

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

87 results

Dillard University
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D
HBCU
New Orleans, LA

Dillard University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

41% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Private Colleges in Louisiana

  • 1,122enrollment
  • $18,551net price
  • 976-1153SAT range
  • 19-23ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

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LeTourneau University
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L
Longview, TX

LeTourneau University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

41% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 3,389enrollment
  • $27,007net price
  • 1140-1370SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

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Regent University
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R
Virginia Beach, VA

Regent University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

41% Acceptance Rate

#14 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 10,168enrollment
  • $18,314net price
  • 1050-1250SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.34Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Saint Gregorys University
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S
Shawnee, OK
 

Saint Gregorys University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

42% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 702enrollment
  • $18,055net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Thomas University
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T
Thomasville, GA

Thomas University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

#9 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

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

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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

43% Acceptance Rate

#17 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,102enrollment
  • $19,326net price
  • 800-980SAT range
  • 13-18ACT range
  • 2.48Avg GPA

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Texas Christian University
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T
Fort Worth, TX

Texas Christian University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

43% Acceptance Rate

#4 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 12,785enrollment
  • $39,005net price
  • 1150-1375SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.68Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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St John's College
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S
Annapolis, MD

St John's College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

44% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 578enrollment
  • $27,729net price
  • 1250-1500SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

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Washington Adventist University
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W
Takoma Park, MD
 

Washington Adventist University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

45% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 695enrollment
  • $16,732net price
  • 800-1100SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.24Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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University of Maryland College Park
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M
College Park, MD

University of Maryland College Park

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

45% Acceptance Rate

#10 Best Public Universities in America

  • 40,813enrollment
  • $15,833net price
  • 1370-1520SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.84Estimated Avg GPA

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Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College
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H
Moore, OK
 

Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

45% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 297enrollment
  • $17,827net price
  • 838-928SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.1Estimated Avg GPA

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Ave Maria University
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A
Ave Maria, FL

Ave Maria University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

45% Acceptance Rate

#13 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 1,335enrollment
  • $23,515net price
  • 1018-1240SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

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Central Baptist College
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C
Conway, AR
 

Central Baptist College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 550enrollment
  • $16,672net price
  • 925-1145SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.15Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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North Carolina A & T State University
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N
HBCU
Greensboro, NC

North Carolina A & T State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

#11 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 13,885enrollment
  • $10,258net price
  • 960-1190SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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The University of Tennessee
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T
Knoxville, TN

The University of Tennessee

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Public Universities in Tennessee

  • 36,304enrollment
  • $20,885net price
  • 1190-1340SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.66Estimated Avg GPA

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Texas A&M International University
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T
Laredo, TX

Texas A&M International University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

46% Acceptance Rate

#15 Best Public Universities in Texas

  • 8,536enrollment
  • $3,833net price
  • 920-1130SAT range
  • 16-20ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

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Macon State College
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M
Macon, Georgia
 

Macon State College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

47% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 5,702enrollment
  • -net price
  • 890-1100SAT range
  • 16-20ACT range
  • 2.96Estimated Avg GPA

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Union University
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U
Jackson, TN

Union University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

47% Acceptance Rate

#4 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 2,674enrollment
  • $27,191net price
  • 1030-1340SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

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