Top Rated Southeast Private Colleges

The Best Private Colleges in the Southeast for 2025

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


136 results

Shenandoah University
S
Winchester, VA

Shenandoah University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 4,343enrollment
  • $26,400net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1230SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Mississippi College
M
Clinton, MS

Mississippi College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in Mississippi

  • 4,087enrollment
  • $21,135net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1260SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.56Estimated Avg GPA

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
E
Daytona Beach, FL

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 12,268enrollment
  • $20,183net price
  • 62%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1260SAT range
  • 24-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Ave Maria University
A
Ave Maria, FL

Ave Maria University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 1,335enrollment
  • $23,515net price
  • 45%acceptance rate
  • 1018-1240SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Tuskegee University
T
HBCU
Tuskegee, AL

Tuskegee University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#2 Best Private Colleges in Alabama

  • 2,846enrollment
  • $35,126net price
  • 31%acceptance rate
  • 995-1255SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 15

Emory and Henry College
E
Emory, VA

Emory and Henry College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,364enrollment
  • $21,714net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1240SAT range
  • 21-30ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Christian Brothers University
C
Memphis, TN
 

Christian Brothers University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 2,043enrollment
  • $17,068net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1300SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Southern Adventist University
S
Collegedale, TN
 

Southern Adventist University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 3,154enrollment
  • $25,374net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 970-1270SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Our Lady of the Lake College
O
Baton Rouge, LA
 

Our Lady of the Lake College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Louisiana

  • 1,204enrollment
  • $15,239net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • 20-24ACT range
  • 3.23Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Fisk University
F
HBCU
Nashville, TN

Fisk University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,005enrollment
  • $19,836net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1480SAT range
  • 20-25ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Bridgewater College
B
Bridgewater, VA

Bridgewater College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,436enrollment
  • $19,660net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1375SAT range
  • 28-29ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

Gardner Webb University
G
Boiling Springs, NC

Gardner Webb University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in North Carolina

  • 3,125enrollment
  • $24,035net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1260SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Oglethorpe University
O
Atlanta, GA

Oglethorpe University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in Georgia

  • 1,522enrollment
  • $22,251net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1106-1320SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

University of Lynchburg
L
Lynchburg, VA

University of Lynchburg

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 2,592enrollment
  • $22,921net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 980-1230SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.53Avg GPA

Applications Due Sep 1

Averett University
A
Danville, VA

Averett University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 1,378enrollment
  • $24,091net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 960-1191SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.07Avg GPA

King College
K
Bristol, TN
 

King College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,295enrollment
  • $23,282net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1160SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.46Avg GPA

Lynn University
L
Boca Raton, FL

Lynn University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in Florida

  • 3,501enrollment
  • $39,582net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1200SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Trevecca Nazarene University
T
Nashville, TN

Trevecca Nazarene University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 3,196enrollment
  • $16,222net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 973-1193SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.43Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1