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

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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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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Warner University
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W
Lake Wales, FL
 

Warner University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 891enrollment
  • $21,471net price
  • 840-1070SAT range
  • 14-20ACT range
  • 3.22Avg GPA

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Averett University
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A
Danville, VA

Averett University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

#11 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,378enrollment
  • $24,091net price
  • 960-1191SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.07Avg GPA

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Hampton University
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H
HBCU
Hampton, VA

Hampton University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

#6 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 3,649enrollment
  • $28,576net price
  • 857-1226SAT range
  • 12-24ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Ecclesia College
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E
Springdale, AR
 

Ecclesia College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

48% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 138enrollment
  • $24,610net price
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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University of West Georgia
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W
Carrollton, GA
 

University of West Georgia

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

49% Acceptance Rate

#5 Best Public Universities in Georgia

  • 12,728enrollment
  • $14,962net price
  • 930-1130SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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Millsaps College
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M
Jackson, MS

Millsaps College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

49% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 626enrollment
  • $26,739net price
  • 1135-1354SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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Mississippi College
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M
Clinton, MS

Mississippi College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

49% Acceptance Rate

#2 Best Private Colleges in Mississippi

  • 4,087enrollment
  • $21,135net price
  • 1140-1260SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.56Estimated Avg GPA

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Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
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C
Concord, NC
 

Cabarrus College of Health Sciences

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

49% Acceptance Rate

 

  • 753enrollment
  • $14,344net price
  • 970-1060SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.21Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Auburn University
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A
Auburn University, AL

Auburn University

Public 4 Year

9 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

#1 Best Public Universities in Alabama

  • 33,015enrollment
  • $24,524net price
  • 1240-1380SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.97Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Southern University and A & M College
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S
HBCU
Baton Rouge, LA

Southern University and A & M College

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

#13 Best Public Universities in Louisiana

  • 7,341enrollment
  • $18,937net price
  • 798-1000SAT range
  • 15-19ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Coppin State University
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C
HBCU
Baltimore, MD

Coppin State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

#7 Best Public Universities in Maryland

  • 2,101enrollment
  • $7,684net price
  • 860-1040SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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Rhodes College
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R
Memphis, TN

Rhodes College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

50% Acceptance Rate

#3 Best Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,952enrollment
  • $30,590net price
  • 1290-1490SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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