Top Rated South Private Colleges

The Best Private Colleges in the South for 2025

These are the top ranked private four-year colleges in the South. Leading the rankings for 2025 as the highest ranked private college in the South is Duke University. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


170 results

North Carolina Wesleyan College
N
Rocky Mount, NC
 

North Carolina Wesleyan College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,345enrollment
  • $19,111net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 860-1120SAT range
  • 15-21ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Concordia University Texas
C
Austin, TX

Concordia University Texas

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#25 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,614enrollment
  • $23,621net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 860-1100SAT range
  • 15-24ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Mount Olive College
M
Mount Olive, NC
 

Mount Olive College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 2,128enrollment
  • $17,893net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 990-1150SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 2.85Avg GPA

Johnson C Smith University
J
HBCU
Charlotte, NC

Johnson C Smith University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,102enrollment
  • $19,326net price
  • 43%acceptance rate
  • 800-980SAT range
  • 13-18ACT range
  • 2.48Avg GPA

Barton College
B
Wilson, NC
 

Barton College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,259enrollment
  • $23,804net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 970-1150SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.25Avg GPA

Coker College
C
Hartsville, SC

Coker College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,263enrollment
  • $18,910net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 940-1160SAT range
  • 16-24ACT range
  • 3.1Estimated Avg GPA

Dillard University
D
HBCU
New Orleans, LA

Dillard University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Private Colleges in Louisiana

  • 1,122enrollment
  • $18,551net price
  • 41%acceptance rate
  • 976-1153SAT range
  • 19-23ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

Clark Atlanta University
C
HBCU
Atlanta, GA

Clark Atlanta University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 4,135enrollment
  • $29,736net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 880-1120SAT range
  • 16-20ACT range
  • 3.28Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

Shorter University
S
Rome, GA

Shorter University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 1,447enrollment
  • $16,692net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 900-1130SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.25Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 25

Union College
U
Barbourville, KY

Union College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky

  • 1,129enrollment
  • $19,223net price
  • 55%acceptance rate
  • 920-1105SAT range
  • 14-21ACT range
  • 3.15Avg GPA

Arizona Christian University
A
Phoenix, AZ
 

Arizona Christian University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in Arizona

  • 1,233enrollment
  • $32,397net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 960-1170SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.16Avg GPA

Southwestern Assemblies of God University
S
Waxahachie, TX

Southwestern Assemblies of God University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#26 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,725enrollment
  • $19,834net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 926-1110SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.19Estimated Avg GPA

Bethel University
B
McKenzie, TN
 

Bethel University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 2,974enrollment
  • $20,606net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 625-1100SAT range
  • 16-24ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Tusculum College
T
Greeneville, TN

Tusculum College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,200enrollment
  • $22,961net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 910-1110SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.18Estimated Avg GPA

Claflin University
C
HBCU
Orangeburg, SC

Claflin University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,835enrollment
  • $21,232net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 840-1040SAT range
  • 16-18ACT range
  • 3.28Avg GPA

Brewton Parker College
B
Mount Vernon, GA
 

Brewton Parker College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 1,123enrollment
  • $22,488net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 880-1010SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Truett McConnell College
T
Cleveland, GA
 

Truett McConnell College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 2,714enrollment
  • $22,373net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1190SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.49Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Benedict College
B
HBCU
Columbia, SC
 

Benedict College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,731enrollment
  • $18,146net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 820-1010SAT range
  • 14-19ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15