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.


73 results

Rust College
R
HBCU
Holly Springs, MS

Rust College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

35% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 429enrollment
  • $8,234net price
  • 440-1339SAT range
  • 17-18ACT range
  • 2.66Avg GPA

Kentucky Mountain Bible College
K
Vancleve, KY
 

Kentucky Mountain Bible College

Private 4 Year

12 reviews

36% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 87enrollment
  • $11,160net price
  • 1090-1170SAT range
  • 21-22ACT range
  • 3.33Avg GPA

University of Georgia
G
Athens, GA

University of Georgia

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

37% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in Georgia

  • 41,615enrollment
  • $16,303net price
  • 1160-1390SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Clemson University
C
Clemson, SC

Clemson University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

38% Acceptance Rate

#24 Best Public Universities in America

  • 28,747enrollment
  • $24,408net price
  • 1230-1390SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

University of Central Florida
C
Orlando, FL

University of Central Florida

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 69,233enrollment
  • $13,110net price
  • 1190-1350SAT range
  • 25-29ACT range
  • 3.64Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Brevard College
B
Brevard, NC

Brevard College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 787enrollment
  • $26,938net price
  • 870-1220SAT range
  • 16-26ACT range
  • 3.07Avg GPA

North Carolina State University at Raleigh
N
Raleigh, NC

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

#20 Best Public Universities in America

  • 37,323enrollment
  • $14,860net price
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Aquinas College
A
Nashville, TN

Aquinas College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

40% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 342enrollment
  • $20,892net price
  • 1100-1370SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Rollins College
R
Winter Park, FL

Rollins College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

41% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 3,013enrollment
  • $37,134net price
  • 1210-1360SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of South Florida Main Campus
S
Tampa, FL

University of South Florida Main Campus

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

41% Acceptance Rate

#4 Best Public Universities in Florida

  • 48,572enrollment
  • $11,578net price
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 24-29ACT range
  • 3.64Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

The University of Tampa
T
Tampa, FL

The University of Tampa

Private 4 Year

13 reviews

41% Acceptance Rate

#10 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 11,054enrollment
  • $35,975net price
  • 1070-1240SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Dillard University
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

Regent University
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

Thomas University
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

Johnson C Smith University
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

St John's College
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

Washington Adventist University
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

University of Maryland College Park
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