The Best Southern Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in the South for 2025

These are the top ranked small, public and private, four-year colleges in the South as ranked by CollegeSimply. These schools all have undergraduate enrollment under 3,000. Small colleges allow students a more intimate and personalized experience where it's more likely you will get to know your professors. Leading the list for 2025 is Washington and Lee University. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.


128 results

Washington and Lee University
W
Lexington, VA

Washington and Lee University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#1 Best Private Colleges in Virginia

  • 2,277enrollment
  • $24,667net price
  • 17%acceptance rate
  • 1410-1530SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.87Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Davidson College
D
Davidson, NC

Davidson College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in North Carolina

  • 1,904enrollment
  • $26,510net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1510SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.81Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 7

Trinity University
T
San Antonio, TX

Trinity University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Texas

  • 2,694enrollment
  • $32,264net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1320-1465SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Sewanee The University of the South
S
Sewanee, TN

Sewanee The University of the South

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,693enrollment
  • $33,616net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1236-1398SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Furman University
F
Greenville, SC

Furman University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in South Carolina

  • 2,505enrollment
  • $32,901net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1425SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Rhodes College
R
Memphis, TN

Rhodes College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Tennessee

  • 1,952enrollment
  • $30,590net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1290-1490SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.99Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

St Mary's College of Maryland
S
St. Mary's City, MD

St Mary's College of Maryland

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Maryland

  • 1,587enrollment
  • $20,679net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1330SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Centre College
C
Danville, KY

Centre College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Kentucky

  • 1,356enrollment
  • $23,780net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1423SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Wofford College
W
Spartanburg, SC

Wofford College

Private 4 Year

8 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in South Carolina

  • 1,873enrollment
  • $31,061net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1350SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Austin College
A
Sherman, TX

Austin College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Value Colleges in Texas

  • 1,136enrollment
  • $24,777net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 31

Union University
U
Jackson, TN

Union University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee

  • 2,674enrollment
  • $27,191net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1340SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Virginia Military Institute
V
Lexington, VA

Virginia Military Institute

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#4 Best Public Universities in Virginia

  • 1,560enrollment
  • $17,229net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1260SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

Southwestern University
S
Georgetown, TX

Southwestern University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 1,457enrollment
  • $30,687net price
  • 39%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1340SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.5Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

University of Dallas
D
Irving, TX

University of Dallas

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in Texas

  • 2,182enrollment
  • $31,221net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1370SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.9Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
N
Socorro, NM

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in New Mexico

  • 1,713enrollment
  • $9,133net price
  • 54%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1290SAT range
  • 20-28ACT range
  • 3.63Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

Oklahoma City University
O
Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in Oklahoma

  • 2,763enrollment
  • $23,143net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1040-1233SAT range
  • 22-28ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Goucher College
G
Baltimore, MD

Goucher College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value Colleges in Maryland

  • 1,500enrollment
  • $28,749net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1366SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.23Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

John Brown University
J
Siloam Springs, AR

John Brown University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#1 Best Value in Arkansas

  • 2,341enrollment
  • $21,464net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1345SAT range
  • 21-30ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA