Southeast Colleges with low acceptance rates

Colleges with the Lowest Acceptance Rate in Southeast for 2025

These are the most selective public and private four-year colleges in Southeast. 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 Southeast colleges with the highest SAT scores, highest ACT scores and highest GPA's.
Southeast Low Acceptance % Public Private 4 year

73 results

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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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

  • 43,234enrollment
  • $14,903net price
  • 1240-1390SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.7Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Alcorn State University
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A
HBCU
Alcorn State, MS

Alcorn State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

25% Acceptance Rate

#6 Best Public Universities in Mississippi

  • 2,894enrollment
  • $13,155net price
  • 850-998SAT range
  • 15-24ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

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Visible Music College
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V
Memphis, TN
 

Visible Music College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

29% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 182enrollment
  • $25,502net price
  • 605-1250SAT range
  • 17-21ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Shaw University
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S
HBCU
Raleigh, NC

Shaw University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

30% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 962enrollment
  • $14,111net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 30

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Tuskegee University
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T
HBCU
Tuskegee, AL

Tuskegee University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

31% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Private Colleges in Alabama

  • 2,846enrollment
  • $35,126net price
  • 995-1255SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

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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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Allen University
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A
HBCU
Columbia, SC

Allen University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

32% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 677enrollment
  • $11,058net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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Berea College
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B
Berea, KY

Berea College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 1,487enrollment
  • $4,379net price
  • 1156-1335SAT range
  • 24-27ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 31

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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

33% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Public Universities in North Carolina

  • 1,074enrollment
  • $11,163net price
  • 1150-1350SAT range
  • 24-27ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 15

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College of William and Mary
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W
Williamsburg, VA

College of William and Mary

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

#6 Best Public Universities in America

  • 9,762enrollment
  • $20,422net price
  • 1365-1510SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 3.85Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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Shorter University College of Adult & Professional Programs
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S
Atlanta, GA
 

Shorter University College of Adult & Professional Programs

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

33% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 35enrollment
  • $19,526net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Luther Rice University
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L
Lithonia, GA
 

Luther Rice University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

34% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 556enrollment
  • $3,935net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Spelman College
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S
HBCU
Atlanta, GA

Spelman College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

34% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 3,633enrollment
  • $37,403net price
  • 1060-1270SAT range
  • 21-27ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Bennett College for Women
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B
HBCU
Greensboro, NC

Bennett College for Women

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

34% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 195enrollment
  • $20,928net price
  • 858-946SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.74Estimated Avg GPA

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Carolina University
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C
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
 

Carolina University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

34% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 893enrollment
  • $19,111net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.0Avg GPA

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United States Sports Academy
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U
Daphne, AL
 

United States Sports Academy

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

35% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 272enrollment
  • -net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Brescia University
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B
Owensboro, KY
 

Brescia University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

35% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 638enrollment
  • $15,087net price
  • 920-1190SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.02Avg GPA

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